Russia and ASEAN: Together into a Multipolar World

One of the year’s most significant events took place in Kazan – Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held their fifth summit. The agreements reached and the values that unite us are explored in this article by NEO.

Relations of Regional Significance

Russia, in Vladimir Putin’s words, will continue “to fully support ASEAN in its efforts to maintain peace and stability in Southeast Asia, to help establish a reliable, open, and comprehensive security system and multifaceted cooperation across the entire Eurasian region, and to promote the harmonisation of various integration processes on the continent taking place within frameworks such as ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.” “Russia and the ASEAN countries – as sovereign, independent, and self-reliant states – pursue a course of bolstering international cooperation, treating all partners with respect, and honoring their history, religion, development models, and traditions. On many issues the modern world is now facing, our positions are close or even coincide.”

In the President’s view, important foundations of our relations reside in both of us “standing together for a fair system of global governance, upholding the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs. Both Russia and ASEAN countries share common moral values, respect each other’s national identity, and recognise the cultural and civilisational diversity of the world. All our states follow their own development models and impose their views on no one. And therein, without a doubt, lies our strength. Russia is ready to continue active joint work with ASEAN states to strengthen our strategic partnership, in the interests of ensuring security, well-being, and prosperity for our countries and peoples, and for the Eurasian region as a whole.” This is a highly significant message, recalling ASEAN’s involvement in the prospective Greater Eurasia project, with its unified and indivisible security architecture – the kind of architecture we would like to see. Together, we truly are Eurasia, and that is where our strength lies.

All these positive assessments are grounded in real cooperative experience. The Russian Federation and ASEAN have been dialogue partners since 1996. This anniversary summit was timed to coincide with 35 years of interaction. Long-standing contacts have created a solid foundation for relations, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation are extensive. As a result, today our relationship remains a vital pillar of the entire international architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.

Reciprocal Engagement

Representatives of ASEAN countries were unanimous with the Russian leader in evaluating the Russia-ASEAN partnership. The summit was attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Prime Ministers Phạm Minh Chính of Vietnam, Hun Manet of Cambodia, Sonexay Siphandone of Laos, Lawrence Wong of Singapore, Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand, Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, Myanmar’s presidential envoy Hau Khan Sum, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

In their........

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