KAZAN, Russia — Russia and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded a summit in Kazan this week with agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy security, expanding trade and increasing the use of national currencies in cross-border settlements, according to joint statements released after the meeting.
The summit, held June 17–19 and marking the 35th anniversary of relations between Russia and ASEAN, brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders or representatives from the 11-member Southeast Asian bloc. Officials said discussions focused on economic cooperation, energy supplies, investment, transportation and regional security.
A joint statement adopted at the meeting said ASEAN countries and Russia agreed to increase cooperation in renewable energy, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while also expanding collaboration on energy-transition initiatives. The statement described energy security as a key area of future engagement between the two sides.
Speaking at the summit, Putin said Russia was prepared to continue supplying ASEAN countries with energy products, food and other commodities while broadening economic ties. According to remarks released after the meeting, Putin called for greater use of national currencies in trade transactions between Russia and ASEAN members.
“To do this, it is important to switch from financial transactions in dollars to national currencies,” Putin said following the summit.
The leaders also adopted the Kazan Declaration and a strategic partnership action plan covering the period from 2026 to 2030. The documents outline cooperation in areas including energy, transport, trade, agriculture, digital technologies, tourism and scientific research, according to summit organizers and official summaries.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose country holds ASEAN's rotating chairmanship in 2026, co-chaired the summit with Putin. Prior to the meeting, Philippine officials said energy security and food security would be among the key topics discussed during bilateral talks between the two leaders.
Several ASEAN members have maintained economic relations with Moscow despite Western sanctions imposed on Russia. The summit took place as Russia seeks to deepen commercial ties with Asian partners and expand markets for its energy exports. ASEAN officials, meanwhile, have emphasized practical cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and energy resilience.
In a statement opening the summit, Putin described the Russia-ASEAN partnership as “an important stabilizing factor” in the Asia-Pacific region and said cooperation had expanded across a range of sectors over the past three decades.
As the summit concluded, participants endorsed the new 2026–2030 partnership framework and joint statements on energy cooperation. Officials said implementation of the agreements would begin through ministerial meetings and working groups in the coming months.
