The member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded a two-day summit in Kazan with the adoption of the Kazan Declaration, a document outlining expanded cooperation between ASEAN and Russia across 16 key areas through 2030.
The summit brought together delegations from Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, East Timor, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Russia. Discussions focused on strengthening regional integration and cooperation across the wider Eurasian space amid what participants described as a changing geopolitical environment.
During the first session of the summit, participants reviewed four joint documents focused on practical measures to deepen relations between Russia and ASEAN countries. The discussions centered on expanding cooperation through existing mechanisms while developing new areas of engagement.
The Kazan Declaration reaffirmed commitments to friendship, mutual trust and respect between ASEAN members and Russia, while expressing a shared goal of promoting peace, stability and security across the Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean and Eurasian regions.
The document emphasized the importance of maintaining an open and inclusive regional architecture centered on ASEAN. It also highlighted continued high-level engagement through ASEAN-Russia summits and post-ministerial conferences as part of efforts to strengthen the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership.
Security cooperation was identified as a major area of focus. The declaration called for stronger dialogue on traditional and nontraditional security challenges and increased cooperation through ASEAN-led platforms, including the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Maritime issues were also included among the priorities, with the declaration supporting cooperation on maritime security, safety, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, and peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The document also addressed cooperation on marine biodiversity, sustainable resource use, piracy, armed robbery against ships and threats to underwater infrastructure.
The declaration outlined plans to strengthen biological safety and security cooperation, including efforts to address public health risks linked to infectious diseases, pandemics, climate change, urbanization and ecological changes. ASEAN and Russia also agreed to explore dialogue mechanisms for coordinating responses to biosecurity threats.
Economic cooperation formed another central part of the agreement. The declaration called for increased trade and investment cooperation, including in services, under existing economic cooperation frameworks between ASEAN member states and Russia.
The document identified several sectors for expanded collaboration, including energy, food security, transport, logistics, agriculture, digitalization, science and technology, artificial intelligence, tourism and creative industries. Participants also highlighted the importance of improving infrastructure links and people-to-people connectivity between the Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean and Eurasian regions.
The declaration also supported stronger partnerships between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where mutually agreed cooperation opportunities exist.
Education and human exchanges were included as additional priorities. The agreement called for expanded professional training programs, scholarships, academic exchanges, language courses and vocational training. It also promoted youth exchanges and youth participation, including efforts toward establishing ASEAN-Russia senior officials’ meetings on youth.
Cultural cooperation was identified as another area of future collaboration. The declaration referenced the 2010 Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between ASEAN member states and Russia, focusing on traditional culture, customs, ecotourism, preservation of cultural heritage, arts and sports.
Through the Kazan Declaration, ASEAN countries and Russia established a framework for broader cooperation aimed at expanding diplomatic, economic and social links across multiple sectors by 2030.
