Hanoi, June 20, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam’s high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, made significant contributions to the success of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit marking the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening ASEAN’s central role and advancing the bloc’s strategic partnership with Russia, Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung said.
Speaking to the media following the summit held in Kazan, Russia, on June 17–18, Foreign Minister Trung described the event as a major success that produced “highly positive and comprehensive” outcomes, laying a strategic foundation for deeper cooperation between ASEAN and Russia, one of Vietnam’s comprehensive strategic partners.
He said Prime Minister Hưng’s participation underscored Vietnam’s active and responsible role within ASEAN while highlighting the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations. The visit also reinforced Vietnam’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development at both regional and global levels.
According to the minister, Vietnam played a proactive role in shaping discussions at the summit by offering balanced assessments of regional and international developments and advocating dialogue, confidence-building measures, peaceful dispute resolution and respect for international law as guiding principles in international relations.
Vietnam’s proposals to strengthen ASEAN–Russia cooperation received strong support from participating leaders. In particular, Hanoi’s initiative to expand collaboration in the energy sector was widely welcomed as a strategic and long-term pillar of the partnership. The country also promoted greater Eurasian connectivity, aiming to deepen practical and mutually beneficial links between ASEAN and Russia.
Prime Minister Hưng announced that Vietnam will host the ASEAN–Russia Young Diplomats Summit in 2027, reflecting Hanoi’s commitment to fostering closer ties and mutual understanding between future leaders of the two regions.
The Vietnamese leader also proposed a range of practical initiatives to boost economic cooperation, including the establishment of an ASEAN–Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) business dialogue, digital platforms to connect enterprises, the development of multimodal transport corridors and digital logistics networks, and measures to facilitate trade and investment.
In the agricultural sector, he called for stronger cooperation in building resilient supply chains, including priority mechanisms for the supply of fertilisers, animal feed ingredients and agricultural technologies to support sustainable agricultural development across ASEAN.
Foreign Minister Trung said Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge for expanding trade and investment between ASEAN and Russia, helping translate cooperation potential into tangible projects and new growth opportunities.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Hưng held extensive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Vietnam–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
According to Trung, the discussions built upon recent high-level exchanges and agreements between the two countries and reflected Russia’s strong interest in deepening engagement with both Vietnam and ASEAN.
The two leaders agreed on six priority areas for advancing bilateral relations, including strengthening political trust, enhancing defence and security cooperation, expanding collaboration in energy and nuclear power, boosting trade and investment, developing transport and industrial connectivity, and deepening cooperation in science, technology, education and training.
A key highlight of bilateral cooperation was the agreement to develop the Ninh Thuận 1 nuclear power plant, described as a landmark project that will serve as a new symbol of Vietnam–Russia relations and support the development of Vietnam’s nuclear energy sector.
The two countries also advanced cooperation in oil and gas exploration, clean and renewable energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and energy storage infrastructure, while continuing joint efforts in scientific research, digital innovation, education, culture and tourism.
Foreign Minister Trung noted that longstanding obstacles to bilateral cooperation had been addressed under the guidance of Vietnam’s senior leadership, creating favorable conditions for implementing major joint projects and strengthening long-term strategic ties.
He said the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit reaffirmed the strategic importance of relations between the two sides amid growing global uncertainties. The participation of most ASEAN leaders alongside President Putin demonstrated the high value both parties place on the partnership and their commitment to strengthening dialogue, trust and cooperation.
The summit adopted the Kazan Declaration 2026 and the ASEAN–Russia Action Plan 2026–2030, which establish a strategic framework for future cooperation and outline priority areas and implementation mechanisms.
A joint statement on energy cooperation elevated energy security and sustainability to a new pillar of ASEAN–Russia relations, while leaders also held their first dedicated discussion on Eurasian integration, signalling a broader and more ambitious vision for regional connectivity.
Foreign Minister Trung concluded that Prime Minister Hưng’s participation in the summit and his bilateral engagements in Russia were highly successful, expressing confidence that the agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders would be translated into concrete actions that deliver practical benefits for businesses and citizens while further deepening the Vietnam–Russia partnership.
