Putin: Russia-ASEAN a balancing force amid global turmoil
Kazan (ANTARA) - Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) serve as important stabilizing forces in the Asia-Pacific region amidst ongoing global instability, stated Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at the Russia-ASEAN Summit held in Kazan.
Putin noted that the results of Russia-ASEAN cooperation are very tangible.
“We have built a robust legal and contractual framework for bilateral relations, as well as developed an extensive network of joint cooperation mechanisms,” he said.
New dialogue platforms have been launched, and practical cooperation has expanded across various sectors, including addressing evolving security challenges and threats, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, digital transformation, science and technology, tourism, as well as people-to-people and humanitarian exchanges, he explained.
The summit marks the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN diplomatic relations and brings together heads of state and government, senior political figures, and high-ranking officials from all 11 ASEAN member states, alongside the ASEAN Secretary-General.
During the summit, the Kazan Declaration was adopted, reaffirming a commitment to building a fair, democratic, and multipolar world order based on universally recognised principles of international law and the UN Charter, according to Yuri Ushakov, aide to the Russian president.
Furthermore, a comprehensive action plan to implement the Russia-ASEAN Strategic Partnership 2026-2030 was approved, outlining various steps to deepen bilateral cooperation in politics and security, trade and investment, as well as cultural and humanitarian fields.
Putin stated that the summit produced many constructive ideas and proposals that could be considered to revitalise bilateral economic partnership.
“Participants voiced support for both the quantitative expansion and qualitative improvement of bilateral trade, the optimisation of trade structures, and the increase of mutual investment scales,” the Russian president said.
“It is crucial to shift the settlement of cross-border commercial transactions to national currencies, eliminate existing trade barriers, and simplify administrative licensing procedures,” Putin emphasised.
Putin stated that Russia will increase exports of high-value-added goods, including fertilisers and pharmaceutical products, to ASEAN, while continuing to supply food and energy, and supporting the development of civil nuclear power in the bloc.
In a press conference following the summit, Putin said both parties welcomed the agreement reached between Iran and the United States (US) to ease military tensions and negotiate terms for a permanent peace agreement.
Both parties hope that stability can return to the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, which would have a positive impact on global energy and food markets, Putin said.