From June 16-18, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Politburo Member, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung led a high-level Vietnamese delegation to attend the ASEAN - Russia 35th Anniversary Summit and conduct bilateral activities in Kazan, Russian Federation.
This diplomatic event is not only of historical significance to the development of the ASEAN - Russia Strategic Partnership, of the regional structure, but also a key step forward, creating new momentum to deepen the Vietnam - Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new era.
The ASEAN-Russian Federation dialogue partnership was established in 1991 and upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2018.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, Head of ASEAN-Vietnam SOM, said that the ASEAN-Russia 35th Anniversary Summit takes place in the context of the world and region witnessing unprecedented major changes since the Cold War, reflected in "three fundamental crises: the crisis of international order, the crisis of development model and the crisis of strategic trust" as General Secretary and President To Lam stated in his speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue.
According to the Deputy Minister, held nearly 5 years after the ASEAN - Russia Summit online in October 2021, this Summit is of special significance, going beyond the scope of a normal commemorative event and of historical significance.
The ASEAN-Russia 35th Anniversary Summit will focus on three major focuses:
First, through a comprehensive review of the ASEAN - Russia Strategic Partnership in the past time, assessing the achieved results, identifying limitations and barriers to cooperation, proposing new orientations, key areas, and breakthrough measures to strengthen substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation in many fields, especially energy security, as well as exploiting opportunities to strengthen linkages, integration, and create new development space between the two Asia-Europe regions.
Second, ASEAN-Russia leaders will exchange in-depth views on regional and international issues of common concern to enhance understanding, strengthen strategic trust, and jointly respond to common challenges on the basis of international law.
Third, the conference is expected to adopt key documents orienting ASEAN - Russia cooperation in the coming period, better meeting the development needs of both ASEAN and Russia in the new situation.
The Russian Federation's importance to ASEAN is also strongly expressed ahead of the conference. Speaking on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized: "The Russia-ASEAN Summit will give an accurate answer about what the world will be like in the future and which path we should take".
Ms. Zakharova assessed that this path is associated with a multipolar, multi-centered order, in which ASEAN are pioneering countries proving an excellent cooperation model, based on mutual respect for interests and harmonious combination of the values and interests of each country as well as the entire region.
