US Secretary of State Open to Meetings with Chinese, Russian Counterparts at ASEAN Meeting

Muscat: Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, has expressed openness to holding bilateral meetings with his Chinese and Russian counterparts, Wang Yi and Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial gathering in Manila this week. This visit marks Rubio's first trip to the Philippines as Secretary of State. According to Oman News Agency, Rubio previously met Wang at last year's ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur and held telephone talks earlier. The potential meetings in Manila could address various international issues and foster diplomatic dialogue amidst global tensions. ASEAN leaders, at their recent summit in Cebu, discussed proposals to establish a joint fuel reserve. This initiative aims to mitigate global energy market volatility and secure the energy needs of member states.