Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and other ASEAN leaders alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin before the summit begins in Kazan, Russia on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng on Thursday joined ASEAN leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Russia.

In his opening remarks, Putin welcomed participants and highlighted ASEAN’s role in international relations both in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers the opening remarks at the summit in Kazan on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

The bloc is said to have stood the test of time and built a framework for interstate cooperation based on widely recognised principles of international law and mutual consideration of interests.

Putin also emphasised economic cooperation and the need to ensure inclusiveness for businesses of all sizes and scales.

Celebrating the 35 years of relations, the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit is considered highly important in advancing the ASEAN–Russia Strategic Partnership, reinforcing political commitment, renewing momentum for cooperation and defining strategic directions for the future across the three pillars of political-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.

PM Hưng’s attendance at the event underscores the strategic importance of ASEAN–Russia cooperation to Việt Nam, and reflects the country’s contribution to promoting a substantive, effective strategic partnership between the bloc and the country. 

Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng attends the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

ASEAN–Russia relations were officially established in July 1991, when a Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation attended the opening session of the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian Government. 

Russia subsequently became a full dialogue partner of the Southeast Asian bloc at the 29th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta in July 1996, establishing an official framework for cooperation between the two sides.

At the first ASEAN–Russia Summit on December 13, 2005, in Kuala Lumpur, the two sides signed the joint declaration on progressive and comprehensive partnership, setting out directions for political-security, economic and development cooperation. They also adopted the ASEAN–Russia Comprehensive Programme of Action for 2005-2015 to implement these strategies.

In 2010, at the second ASEAN–Russia Summit in Hà Nội, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their partnership and enhancing coordination within the evolving regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific. 

The event also highlighted Việt Nam’s active role in promoting ASEAN–Russia relations and Russia’s participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms, notably the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and ASEAN leaders at the summit in Kazan on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

To mark the 20th anniversary of dialogue relations, ASEAN and Russia held a commemorative summit in Sochi in 2016 and adopted the Sochi Declaration, setting the course for future cooperation.

ASEAN and Russia agreed to elevate their relations to a Strategic Partnership at the third ASEAN–Russia Summit in Singapore in 2018. The summit also adopted a declaration on cooperation in security and the use of information and communication technologies, and witnessed the signing of an MoU between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission on economic cooperation.

In 2021, the fourth ASEAN–Russia Summit was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of relations and further strengthen the Strategic Partnership. Leaders adopted a Joint Statement on building a peaceful, stable and sustainable region, as well as an ASEAN–Russia statement on cooperation against illicit drug trafficking. — VNS