Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam from 2007-2014, recounted a dramatic moment 16 years ago in Hanoi. He described the "heart-stopping" two to three minutes when he arranged for the Russian and US foreign ministers to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS). "At that moment, everything lasted only two to three minutes, but I was extremely anxious. In the end, everything went smoothly, but honestly, it was a close call," he said.

This marked the first time that both the US and Russian foreign ministers attended the EAS, a summit established in 2005. The EAS originally included the 10 ASEAN member states along with partners Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India.

From its inception, ASEAN intended to invite both Russia and the US to participate in the EAS. This demonstrated ASEAN's role in leading an inclusive cooperation framework that fostered strategic balance, preventing the region from being dominated geopolitically and geoeconomically.

Mr. Vinh noted that Russia had signaled interest in joining the EAS as early as 2005. However, the US was not ready at that time, as Washington often prioritized multilateral mechanisms they initiated or led. Consequently, plans to expand the EAS were postponed.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam from 2007-2014. Photo: Giang Huy

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam from 2007-2014. Photo: Giang Huy

An opportunity arose in 2010 when Vietnam served as ASEAN Chair and the EAS celebrated its five-year anniversary. At noon 15/7/2010 (early morning 16/7 Hanoi time), then US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell proactively scheduled a lunch with ASEAN ambassadors in Washington to convey a message: The US wanted to join the EAS.

At that time, the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), preparing for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN+1, and ARF, was scheduled to open in Hanoi in just a few hours.

"This was a golden opportunity to bring both major powers into the EAS, but time was extremely tight. According to protocol, SOM heads had to report and seek guidance from their capitals," Mr. Vinh told VnExpress. Following the usual procedure would mean SOM heads missing the most important meeting of the year for foreign ministers, which was the best chance to decide on this matter.

As the chairman of the SOM meeting that morning, Mr. Vinh announced the US proposal. He then asked SOM heads for preliminary, personal opinions on inviting both Russia and the US to join the EAS. He argued that this was a strategic opportunity aligned with ASEAN's interests and needed to be presented to the ministerial and summit levels promptly.

Most SOM heads welcomed the idea, but some delegations expressed concerns about the impact of major powers on ASEAN's "centrality" and the reactions from other EAS partners.

"Given the situation, as the host nation, the Vietnamese delegation proposed a break for further discussion. Unlike typical 15-minute breaks, that day's recess lasted over 45 minutes," Mr. Vinh revealed.

During that extended 45-minute break, the SOM heads achieved a positive common understanding. At the subsequent Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the parties unanimously approved the proposal to invite the US and Russia to join the EAS and formally submitted it to the senior leaders.

After ministerial approval, from July to October 2010, Vietnam continued to chair a series of SOM meetings. These discussions focused on how to maintain the bloc's centrality in the new context and involved consultations with the six remaining EAS partners.

In these meetings, Vietnam proposed inviting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to attend the EAS meeting in October 2010 in Hanoi as guests of the Chair. This initiative received unanimous consent.

To prepare for the event, host nation Vietnam developed extremely strict protocol and procedural scenarios, from the order of speeches to seating arrangements.

Vietnam proposed that the EAS summit would proceed normally. After concluding agenda items, Vietnam, as EAS Chair, would speak first and announce the decision to invite Russia and the US. Then, the Russian and US foreign ministers would speak in alphabetical order.

Seating arrangements at the conference also posed a challenge. The US and Russian foreign ministers were not yet EAS members, nor were they heads of state, so they could not sit at the main conference table.

Vietnam resolved this issue by breaking tradition, eliminating the common conference table, and arranging EAS senior leaders in a salon style, with separate side tables for national flags. After the internal EAS senior-level meeting concluded, the host nation would arrange two additional chairs, slightly separated, and invite the US and Russian foreign ministers to join. This arrangement ensured both diplomatic and political protocols were met, Mr. Vinh emphasized.

Even ensuring both foreign ministers entered the meeting room at the same time was meticulously planned to avoid any political sensitivities. Mr. Vinh was tasked with greeting the two guests at the meeting room door and had to ensure the diplomatic principle that both foreign ministers entered the room simultaneously, to avoid any distinction.

However, a small, unforeseen incident occurred. On the way from the waiting room on the first floor to the EAS meeting room upstairs, Hillary inadvertently walked faster and arrived first, while Lavrov was slightly delayed behind.

To ensure both entered the room together, Mr. Vinh asked then ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan to engage Hillary in conversation to "keep her occupied" at the door. Inside the meeting room, Vietnamese delegation officials continuously sent urgent messages, signaling that the senior leaders of the 16 countries were ready and waiting, Ambassador Vinh recounted.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hanoi on 30/10/2010. Photo: AFP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hanoi on 30/10/2010. Photo: AFP

After those "heart-stopping" minutes, the EAS meeting proceeded smoothly, and leaders agreed to admit the US and Russia as members. This decision was based on respecting the EAS's objectives, principles, modalities, and priorities, and supporting ASEAN's leading role.

Then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem assessed this as a strategically significant decision by ASEAN. It elevated the EAS into a higher-level and broader-scope cooperation forum in the region.

Secretary of State Clinton later thanked Vietnam for facilitating US participation in regional forums and for inviting the US, along with Russia, to join the EAS. In a recent interview, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko stated that Russia "highly values Vietnam's role, appreciates Vietnam's support and important contributions in promoting the strategic partnership between Russia and ASEAN."

In 2011, Russia and the US officially became full members of the EAS, increasing the total number of members to 18. This affirmed ASEAN's capacity to shape the regional structure.

Developing a bridging role

Speaking at the opening of the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit held last week in Kazan, President Vladimir Putin emphasized that this is a "strategic relationship, contributing to forming a balanced security architecture and promoting equal, mutually beneficial cooperation."

Over 35 years, Russia and ASEAN have become strategic partners, strengthening cooperation across many fields. This was something few could have imagined in ASEAN's early days, and it has been fostered by Vietnam's bridging role.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on 18/6. Photo: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on 18/6. Photo: Kremlin

When ASEAN was established in August 1967 by five nations: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand, relations between the bloc and the Soviet Union were initially marked by distrust, according to Ambassador Do Ngoc Son, former Director-General of the ASEAN Department.

A historical turning point emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This period saw the end of the Cold War, the resolution of the Cambodia issue, and China's opening up to integration.

Against this backdrop, ASEAN countries began to shift their thinking. Instead of confrontation, member states aimed to build an inclusive regional structure, drawing major powers into an ASEAN-led dialogue mechanism.

Russia, the successor state to the Soviet Union, began to be seen by ASEAN as a potential partner. However, the initial steps were not easy.

At that time, Russia was grappling with economic and political crises and prioritizing improved relations with the West. ASEAN and Russia lacked both a foundation for cooperation and strategic trust, while economic cooperation was too nascent to generate momentum. According to Mr. Son, ASEAN at the time remained skeptical about Russia's long-term commitment to the region.

"ASEAN-Russia relations in the early stages primarily focused on building trust, establishing dialogue mechanisms, and gradually laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation," Ambassador Son stated.

Ambassador Do Ngoc Son, former Director-General of the ASEAN Department. Photo: Van Phu

Ambassador Do Ngoc Son, former Director-General of the ASEAN Department. Photo: Van Phu

In 1991, Russia was invited to attend the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and subsequently joined the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) from its inception in 1994.

"This was a transitional period that clearly reflected ASEAN's post-Cold War strategy, gradually integrating major powers into an ASEAN-centric regional structure," Mr. Son analyzed.

The relationship between Russia and ASEAN began to accelerate after Vietnam joined the bloc in July 1995. As a new ASEAN member with deep, traditional friendly ties with Russia, Vietnam became the perfect catalyst to foster mutual understanding between the two sides.

With Vietnam's bridging role and Moscow's efforts to re-establish its presence in the Asia-Pacific, Russia officially became a Full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1996.

During the 1996-1999 period, as the Coordinator for ASEAN-Russia relations, Vietnam actively promoted dialogue. It supported Russia in gaining deeper access to the bloc's cooperation mechanisms and operational principles.

Another significant shift occurred in 2004 when Russia acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

"This was a landmark, not only enhancing Russia's legitimacy in Southeast Asia but also creating a legal basis for deep cooperation between the two sides, contributing to consolidating a multipolar regional landscape," Ambassador Son emphasized.

A year later, the first ASEAN-Russia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005, attended by President Putin. The elevation of relations to the head-of-state level showed that Russia was not just a regular dialogue partner of ASEAN, but had become an indispensable component of the regional structure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the first ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December 2005. Photo: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the first ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December 2005. Photo: Kremlin

Hoping for a new vision

Looking back over 35 years, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh noted that ASEAN and Russia share many strategic interests in maintaining peace, stability, and development in the Asia-Pacific. However, in a rapidly shifting global geopolitical landscape, both sides need a more suitable new vision for cooperation.

According to him, the scope for cooperation between ASEAN and Russia remains vast, especially in economic, energy, technology, and education sectors. ASEAN also expects Russia to pursue a stronger, more substantive engagement strategy with Southeast Asia and participate more deeply in region-led mechanisms.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit on 18/6, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed several major cooperation directions to advance the relationship. These included promoting shared principles and values.

The Prime Minister urged ASEAN and Russia to remove barriers related to logistics, market access, and payment mechanisms, aiming to increase two-way trade turnover to 45 billion USD by 2035. Both sides also need to boost cooperation in education, training, youth, culture, and tourism.

ASEAN and Russian leaders at the summit adopted the Kazan Declaration 2026 "ASEAN-Russia: Unity in Diversity - 35 Years of Partnership," along with declarations on energy cooperation, culture, and the ASEAN-Russia Work Plan for 2026-2030.

Ambassador Vinh believes that in this journey, with its proactive spirit and new standing, Vietnam "will certainly continue to promote cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, including Russia."

Lan Huong - Thanh Tam