Vietnam PM Calls for Stronger ASEAN-Russia Cooperation in Supply Chains, Energy and Technology
Kazan, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng on Wednesday called for stronger cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia in supply chains, energy and technology, emphasizing that closer economic ties would help both sides navigate growing global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
Addressing the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum in Kazan, Hưng said the gathering offered an important platform to discuss strategic directions for expanding practical, resilient and mutually beneficial cooperation amid increasing volatility in the global economy.
The Vietnamese leader outlined three priority areas for future collaboration. First, he stressed the need for ASEAN and Russia to enhance coordination in developing stable and flexible supply chains capable of withstanding external shocks. He also advocated improving transportation connectivity between Russia’s Far East and Southeast Asia to facilitate trade and investment flows.
Secondly, Hưng identified energy as a key pillar of ASEAN-Russia cooperation, highlighting opportunities in clean energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, offshore wind power and energy-efficiency technologies to strengthen regional energy security.
The third priority, he said, was technology, innovation and digital transformation, which have emerged as major drivers of economic growth. He called for expanded cooperation programmes, greater support for technology companies and start-ups, and the development of an integrated innovation ecosystem linking businesses across ASEAN and Russia.
Hưng noted that Vietnam was ready to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union, particularly Russia, and encouraged companies from both sides to pursue long-term investments and establish new value chains. He added that while governments must ensure a stable and transparent business environment, the private sector would play the leading role in turning cooperation into concrete projects and economic opportunities.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also underscored the importance of closer ASEAN-Russia relations, saying rising geopolitical tensions highlighted the need for greater cooperation. He stressed that no country, regardless of its size, could address global challenges alone.
Anwar called for deeper dialogue, trust-building, policy coordination and the removal of trade barriers, while reaffirming support for a rules-based multilateral trading system as the foundation for expanding ASEAN-Russia economic cooperation.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said rapid technological advances and disruptions to global supply chains were creating both opportunities and challenges, requiring ASEAN and Russia to adapt to a changing international environment.
He identified connectivity, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges as the main priorities for bilateral cooperation. The Thai premier also emphasized the importance of energy cooperation and food security, while advocating stronger collaboration in tourism, healthcare, wellness services and the creative economy.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn urged businesses from both sides to focus on four strategic areas: energy security, food security, supply chain connectivity and emerging sectors related to the digital economy and technological innovation.
He noted that regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement would provide valuable platforms for expanding business partnerships and unlocking new investment opportunities.
Business representatives and industry experts from ASEAN and Russia highlighted the urgent need to strengthen trade, investment and participation in reliable international supply chains amid ongoing disruptions affecting global energy and food networks.
With a combined population of approximately 850 million people, ASEAN and Russia possess significant potential to expand economic cooperation across a wide range of sectors, participants said. They emphasized that energy security, food security, digital transformation and artificial intelligence have become increasingly important areas for future collaboration.
Delegates also pointed to ASEAN’s rapidly growing digital economy, supported by a young population of around 220 million people aged between 15 and 34 and widespread internet connectivity, as a strong basis for deeper cooperation in information technology and innovation.
Participants concluded that the longstanding economic relationship between ASEAN and Russia, built over decades of trade and investment cooperation, provides a solid foundation for expanding partnerships, enhancing connectivity and creating new opportunities for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
