An Islamic cultural event for diplomatic missions of the ASEAN member states was held at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political, economic and cultural regional organisation that currently includes 10 countries.

The delegation was received by Rushan Abbyasov, deputy of Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia.

The iftar was attended by Ivan Polyakov (chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council) and his spouse, aini Hashim (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam) and his spouse, Duong Hoang Min (Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Vietnam), Azis Noorvakhyudi (deputy head of Mission of Indonesia), Eat Seyla (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia) and his spouse. Phet Saisompheng (Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Laos), Bala Chandran Tharman (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia), Ko Ko Shein (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Myanmar) and his spouse. Premijit Sadasivan (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Singapore), Sasiwat Wongsinsawat (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand) Robert O. Ferrer, (Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Philippines), Daniyar Akkaziev (Executive director of Russia-ASEAN Business Council) and Executive Secretary Samat Satvoldinov, Jamal Garifullin (Representative of the Chairman of the Russian RBM in the Far Eastern Federal District, Chairman of the RBM of Primorsky Krai), Ildar Galeyev (head of the International Department of the RMC), representatives of the Halal Standardization and Certification centre David Ainetdinov and Samat Sadykov, General Director of the official hajj operator "Muslim Tour" Ali Gurdin, employees of the Russian RBM.

Rushan Abyasov offered a tour around the new complex of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and spoke about the history of the main Muslim temple of the country. Renat Abyanov, head of the Culture Department of the Russian RBM, acquainted the distinguished guests with a photo exhibition "Wooden Architecture: Muslim temples of Russia".

Rushan Abbyasov noted that the RMC had a longstanding and fruitful cooperation with the ASEAN countries in the fields of education, religion, culture, scienc , which is proved by regular visits of ASEAN delegations to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, student exchanges, signed memoranda of cooperation, and close contacts in the field of theology. Rushan Abbyasov emphasized the importance of existing brotherly relations between the peoples of Russia and ASEAN countries and expressed confidence in further development of cooperation.

Ivan Polyakov, Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, noted that Russia was a multinational and multi-religious country. He stressed that the ASEAN Moscow Committee highly appreciated the cooperation with the Russian Muftis Council and Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation. The Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council thanked for the organisation of the unique cultural event in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

Haini Hashim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam, said that this event was valuable in terms of enhancing relations with the Islamic organizations in Russia in various fields, particularly in education, culture and the halal industry.

During the event the guests were shown video recordings with information on major international projects of RMC and RBMRF, where representatives of ASEAN countries were also involved.

Rushan Abbyasov spoke about a unique exhibition, "Islamic traditions in Russia", which was held in Brunei and Indonesia and attracted a lot of attention from the media and general public. According to him, this exhibition allows people to know about the history of Islam, traditions and culture of Russian peoples, as well as the architecture of Russian mosques.

He also spoke about the Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition and mentioned that participants from ASEAN countries had repeatedly won the contest, demonstrating high mastery in reciting the Holy Scripture. Rushan Abbyasov took the opportunity to invite the distinguished guests to attend the 20th Moscow International Quran reciting Competition scheduled for this fall, depending on the global epidemiological situation.

Rushan Abbyasov spoke about the establishment of the Halal Standardization and Certification centre and about Moscow Halal Expo, where companies from ASEAN countries were actively participatimh, as well as "Made in Russia. Halal" exhibition, which was successfully held in Bahrain in November 2019.