Results of the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Kazan

      In Kazan, from June 17 to 19, the Russia-ASEAN summit took place. The event was attended by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and representatives from ten Southeast Asian countries. This meeting is timed to the 35th anniversary of the dialogue partnership between Russia and ASEAN. Russia hosted the summit on its territory ten years ago in Sochi.

      The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 and includes 11 countries. Detailed materials about each of the countries have been published on our website. The summit confirmed Kazan's status as an open international platform. The first day began with an official meeting between President Vladimir Putin and the ASEAN delegations, followed by a reception at the new building of the Galiaskar Kamal Tatar Theater. The main negotiations took place on June 18 at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center.

      photo: press service of the Republic of Tatarstan

      What the parties signed

      As a result of the summit, four documents were adopted.

      The Kazan Declaration "Russia-ASEAN: Unity in Diversity - 35 Years Together"

      The document established common approaches to the international agenda. The parties confirmed their commitment to forming a multipolar world order based on the UN Charter. The declaration outlines directions for deepening cooperation: trade and investment, energy, food security, transport and logistics, digitalization, science and technology, and tourism. Intentions to strengthen biosecurity, combat transnational crime, and develop maritime cooperation, including the protection of underwater infrastructure and the fight against piracy, were also specifically recorded. ASEAN also expressed readiness to develop partnerships with the EAEU and SCO.

      Comprehensive Action Plan for Implementing Strategic Partnership for 2026-2030

      The plan covers policy and security, trade and investment, energy, transport, agriculture, the digital sphere, science, and technology. It outlines mechanisms for implementing joint projects and deadlines for their completion.

      Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Energy

      The parties pointed to the risks of global energy instability caused by geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. Russia confirmed its status as a leading energy partner with expertise in traditional and emerging sectors. The agreements provide for the expansion of trade, investment, and long-term commercial partnerships in oil, gas, LNG, and electricity.

      Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture

      The document aims to preserve and promote linguistic and cultural diversity, including in the digital environment. The parties agreed to explore the possibility of holding joint years of culture, expand training programs, strengthen cooperation in preserving historical heritage, and deepen interaction in the field of cultural tourism. Joint events for the restoration of monuments and museums, support for the ASEAN Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the development of creative industries to support the digital content market were also planned.

      What was discussed at the summit

      Vladimir Putin urged partners to actively switch to settlements in national currencies. According to him, this will enhance the resilience and security of the financial system and reduce dependence on Western infrastructure.

      "It is important to transition to national currencies in financial settlements for commercial transactions, eliminate remaining trade barriers, and simplify administrative procedures. All our countries have good opportunities for this," the president stated.

      As noted by Kyrlan Marchel, a candidate of legal sciences and an expert analyst in international and investment law, for businesses, the transition to national currencies means not an immediate abandonment of the dollar, but a pragmatic diversification: ruble, yuan, currencies of ASEAN countries, banking corridors through friendly jurisdictions.

      "For small and medium-sized businesses, this is important because foreign trade becomes not only a matter of product price but also a matter of payment reliability," he explained.

      Russia also proposed to increase exports of high value-added products to ASEAN countries, including fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. At the same time, food and energy supplies will remain, as they are still in demand among Asian partners. The parties agreed to expand transcontinental maritime and rail transport, strengthen cooperation in maritime security and biosecurity, and develop partnerships in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

      What the summit will give Tatarstan

      Experts note that for Tatarstan, the summit may become not just an image event. According to Kyrlan Marchel, the practical effect for companies in the republic and the Volga region may manifest in the expansion of trade channels with Southeast Asia, the search for alternative settlement routes, and the formation of more resilient supply chains. In logistics, companies will look for routes through the Caspian Sea, Iran, China, maritime ports, and multimodal schemes.

      "For Tatarstan, this is especially relevant, as the region produces not raw materials in pure form, but industrial, agricultural, chemical, IT, and processed products, where timing, packaging, certification, and service support are important," the expert emphasized.

      Yaroslav Klimov, an assistant professor of humanities at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, also highlights energy and food security as the most ready areas for Tatarstan's cooperation with ASEAN.

      "The republic has strong positions in petrochemicals, fertilizer production, and the food industry. In the field of artificial intelligence and traditional values, Tatarstan currently has fewer competitive export products, although some developments in digital solutions for industry already exist," he noted.

      In his opinion, in the next 2-3 years, new logistics chains may emerge through the ports of the Far East and the development of corridors to Southeast Asia.

      Humanitarian ties

      About five thousand citizens of ASEAN countries study in Russian universities, including on a budget basis. The tourist flow has increased over the year. The number of Russians visiting Southeast Asia increased by 37%, while tourists from ASEAN countries to Russia increased by 34%. The parties supported the expansion of educational programs and decided to create a mechanism for Senior Officials Meetings on Youth Affairs.

      photo: press service of the Republic of Tatarstan

      As part of the cultural program, an exhibition "Made in Tatarstan" was held featuring products from local companies, ranging from medicine to heavy industry. Vladimir Putin invited summit participants to stay in Kazan for a few days to attend the national holiday Sabantuy.

      Bilateral contacts

      On the sidelines of the summit, Putin held nine bilateral meetings. Among the interlocutors were the President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, and the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and East Timor. Attention was drawn to negotiations with the Prime Minister of Singapore, the only ASEAN country that imposed sanctions against Russia in 2022. Despite this, trade between the two countries increased by 81% from 2022 to 2024, reaching $4.5 billion.

      The President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, also held a number of meetings. Cooperation in petrochemicals, energy, engineering, and the IT sector was discussed with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Le Minh Khai. As a result of last year, trade between Tatarstan and Vietnam nearly doubled, reaching 63 million dollars. The possibility of launching direct flights between Kazan and Malaysia was also discussed.

      Anastasia Sorokina