Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's trip follows an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a 13/6 statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russia initiated relations with ASEAN in July 1991, when Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov attended the opening session of the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian government. Russia became a full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in July 1996, establishing a framework for official cooperation between both sides.

At the first ASEAN-Russia Summit in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, both sides signed the Joint Declaration on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership, establishing the direction for cooperation in political-security, economic, and development sectors.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in Hanoi on 9/6. Photo: *Giang Huy*

The relationship between both sides was further strengthened at the second ASEAN-Russia Summit, held on 30/11/2010 in Hanoi. The summit reaffirmed the commitment to deepen the Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership and enhance coordination within the evolving regional architecture in Asia-Pacific.

At the third Summit in Singapore in November 2018, both sides agreed to upgrade relations to a Strategic Partnership. Currently, ASEAN-Russia cooperation is implemented within the Comprehensive Action Plan for the 2021-2025 period to realize the Strategic Partnership, inheriting the Action Plan for the 2016-2020 period and the foundation of relations built since 1991.

Cooperation activities are also supported through the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund, established in 2007.

Russia appointed its first Ambassador to ASEAN in 2009 after the ASEAN Charter took effect. In 2017, the Russian Mission to ASEAN was established, further strengthening coordination mechanisms and policy dialogue with ASEAN.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the upcoming ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kazan will be an opportunity for both sides to strengthen joint cooperation efforts.

"The cooperative ties between Russia and ASEAN have been maintained for a long time and are growing stronger. We believe that ASEAN member states have all the necessary conditions to hold worthy positions in the emerging multipolar world order", Lavrov said in a message on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Huyen Le