At the ASEAN-Russia Summit commemorating the 35th anniversary of relations, which will be held on June 16-18, 2026 in Kazan, the realization of the “sectoral strategic partnership” model and the connection of the Eurasian economic space are not only a key solution to ensure security energy and high technologies, but also create new impetus for economic cooperation between the two parties.
If we consider the path traveled from the first contacts in 1991 until reaching the status of strategic partnership in 2018, the economy has always been perceived as the pillar of cooperation, bringing the most concrete benefits to both parties. Russia and ASEAN thus reaffirm their role as essential partners in a rapidly changing regional context.
According to V. Mazyrin, director of the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, ASEAN currently occupies a leading position and is a priority partner in Russia’s new foreign policy strategy. The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, also praised ASEAN as an excellent model of cooperation, based on mutual respect for interests, which helps Russia diversify its external economic relations while promoting Implements its policy of opening towards the East.
Conversely, Russia plays a vital role in providing fundamental resources such as energy, agriculture and high technology to the development of Southeast Asia. Moreover, maintaining relations with Russia not only promotes growth, but also represents a balanced approach, diversifying external relations in order to preserve a strategic balance between the great powers.
The results of this cooperation have resulted in impressive figures in terms of trade. According to data released at the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee meeting in April 2026, bilateral trade reached approximately 21.6 billion US dollars, and the potential for cooperation between the two sides remains very significant. In particular, the two parties achieved 82% of the objectives of the Comprehensive Action Plan for the period 2021-2025, focused on key sectors such as oil and gas, fertilizers and human resources training. This result demonstrates that bilateral economic relations are no longer just potential, but have already produced tangible benefits.
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This increased cooperation is motivated by the need to respond to profound global upheavals. After 2022, faced with the many challenges that continued to affect relations between Russia and the West, Russia intensified its East-oriented policy, making Asia one of its strategic priorities. In this context, ASEAN has established itself as an essential partner thanks to its favorable geoeconomic position, its high growth rate and its central role in regional cooperation mechanisms. At the same time, ASEAN also needed to diversify its partners in order to preserve its strategic balance and guarantee its energy security.
With a view to the next stage, both parties are resolutely moving towards sectors linked to the knowledge economy and sustainable development. MV Mazyrin said Russia is promoting a “sectoral strategic partnership” model to focus resources on key areas. This targeted approach allows both parties to better adapt to global supply chains and create economic value, instead of relying solely on traditional mining industries.
During the preparatory meetings for the Summit commemorating 35 years of bilateral relations, the two sides stressed the need to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of digital transformation, high technologies, innovation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and sustainable development. These sectors are seen as potential levers of growth for ASEAN-Russia relations over the next decade.
It should be noted that Russia has also initiated the Great Eurasian Partnership, of which the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and ASEAN are expected to constitute the two main pillars. The integration of these mechanisms will not only diversify supply chains, but also strengthen the region’s resilience in the face of international economic fluctuations. In terms of energy security, MV Mazyrin highlighted Russia’s strengths in the oil, gas and civil nuclear energy sectors, which can meet ASEAN’s needs for industrialization and ecological transition. Amid disruptions to global energy supply chains, this cooperation becomes essential to ensure the energy security of Southeast Asia’s dynamic emerging economies.
In this context of cooperation, Vietnam reaffirms its role as a reliable “bridge”. Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi stressed that Vietnam has always been one of the strongest defenders of Russia-ASEAN relations, and that this role is currently being significantly strengthened. This is evidenced by the volume of trade between Vietnam and Russia, which reached 1.72 billion US dollars in the first four months of 2026 (an increase of 9.22% compared to the same period in 2025), and the 194% increase in the number of Russian tourists visiting Vietnam compared to the same period in 2025. same period in 2025. As it prepares to assume coordination of ASEAN-Russia relations from 2027 to 2030, Vietnam is actively contributing to cooperation initiatives such as the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant project, a project which should serve as an economic model for other countries in ASEAN considering developing civil nuclear energy.
In a changing global geopolitical context, traditional cooperation mechanisms must adapt, take shape and produce more tangible results. This is why this Kazan conference is not just a simple festive event; it also aims to guide ASEAN-Russia relations for the future. It offers both parties the opportunity to transform their potential into concrete economic benefits in a changing world.
Source : https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/hop-tac-kinh-te-asean-nga-xung-luc-moi-sau-35-nam-gan-ket-20260616152537328.htm
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