During the plenary session of the Asean - Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of relations today, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung affirmed Vietnam's consistent high regard for its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia. He expressed Vietnam's support for Russia's continued positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific region and globally, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Amid current complex and unpredictable global changes, the Prime Minister stressed the need for Asean and Russia to actively collaborate in fostering a more stable, balanced, and sustainable environment. Vietnam advocates for resolving disagreements and conflicts through peaceful means, based on international law, the United Nations Charter, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thereby promoting dialogue and seeking sustainable peaceful solutions.

Prime minister Le Minh Hung at the plenary session of the Asean - Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of relations. *Photo: TTXVN*

To further strengthen Asean - Russia relations, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed three major directions for cooperation. First, elevating the strategic level of relations through regular Asean - Russia Summits. This includes strengthening ties between the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the Russian Parliament, and promoting shared principles and values.

Second, promoting cooperation by removing barriers related to logistics, market access, and payment mechanisms, with the goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to 45 billion USD by 2035. Both sides should also enhance cooperation in education, training, youth, culture, and tourism.

Third, enhancing resilience and adaptability, with energy becoming a vital pillar of cooperation. The Prime Minister also proposed establishing a priority mechanism for the supply of fertilizers, animal feed ingredients, and agricultural technology, while strengthening digital transformation cooperation and contributing to the implementation of the Hanoi Convention on combating cybercrime.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung also announced that Vietnam will host the Asean - Russia Young Diplomats Summit in 2027.

In his opening remarks at the plenary session, President Vladimir Putin noted that Asean - Russia relations have significantly contributed to regional and global peace, stability, and development.

He proposed doubling bilateral trade over the next 10 years and expanding cooperation across various sectors, including: counter-terrorism, transnational crime, artificial intelligence, science and technology, biosecurity, civilian nuclear energy, connectivity, and logistics.

President Putin at the opening session of the Asean - Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of relations on 18/6. *Photo: Reuters*

Asean countries affirmed their appreciation for Russia's role and contributions in the Asia-Pacific region, agreeing that the Asean - Russia Strategic Partnership should continue to promote peace, security, stability, and development.

Leaders from Asean and Russia agreed to strengthen high-level dialogue and expand cooperation across various sectors, including: trade, investment, science and technology, education, digital economy, innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and maritime cooperation. Both sides also agreed to make energy a priority focus, along with enhancing cooperation on food security and agricultural supply chains.

The leaders of Asean and Russia adopted the Kazan Declaration 2026, titled "Asean - Russia: Unity in Diversity - 35 Years of Partnership," along with declarations on energy cooperation, culture, and the Asean - Russia Work Plan for the 2026-2030 period.

Thanh Danh