Cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of Moscow’s foreign policy priorities in Asia, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement marking ASEAN Day. "ASEAN is one of the key elements of the regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. An entire system of multilateral mechanisms related to the association, involving Russia and other leading world powers, has been established. <...> Developing cooperation with ASEAN is one of Russia's foreign policy priorities in Asia," the statement reads. The member states celebrate ASEAN Day annually on August 8.