By NNN-Prensa Latina
Moscow : Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Serguei Lavrov begins a tour of various Latin American countries this week, including Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay, the Foreign Office reported.
After taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum held in Sydney, Australia, Lavrov left for South America on Monday in his first tour of that region this year.
According to his agenda, the Russian Foreign minister started an official visit to Peru on Tuesday, where he held talks with his peer Jose Antonio Garcia.
During the APEC forum in Sydney, Lavrov and Garcia were the signatories of an agreement between Lima and Moscow on the regular exchange of governmental delegations.
Russia gives strategic importance to cooperation ties with the regional integration groups in Latin America, such as the Andean Community of Nations, and the South Common Market (MERCOSUR), said official sources.
Lavrov is scheduled to arrive in Uruguay on Sept 12 and the day after in Paraguay, the last stopover of his tour of Latin America