An extract from the letter:
“I am glad to greet the delegates and guests of the 11th General Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), who have gathered in Moscow for their important and representative forum.
“The work of the OANA, which was established almost 40 years ago on the initiative of the UN and UNESCO, has become an effective instrument for ensuring direct and free information exchanges between Asia-Pacific nations, which account for over a half of the world’s population. Your joint work is an example of fruitful interaction in the third millennium. Such interaction hinges on a striving for an equitable world order, which is expected to create equal development opportunities based on human civilisation’s most advanced achievements for all countries and peoples.
“It pleases me to say that Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency is playing an important role in the OANA’s work. The agency’s journalists promptly and objectively inform the world about different aspects of Russian life and tell the people of Russia about global events. Reports from the rapidly developing Asia-Pacific region figure prominently in this information flow.
“I am convinced that the General Assembly’s work will help the OANA to effectively accomplish its ambitious objectives.
“I wish its delegates and guests good health, prosperity and every success in their work.”