On the morning of June 17, within the framework of the ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit marking 35 years of relations, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung led a high-level Vietnamese delegation to attend and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum.

This year's ASEAN-Russia Business Forum and the ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit marking the 35th anniversary of relations were held in the Republic of Tatarstan, one of Russia's oldest and most developed regions.

Attending the opening session of the Forum were ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, senior representatives of host country Russia and Tatarstan, along with a large number of representatives from business associations, enterprises and research organizations from Russia and ASEAN, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the ASEAN-Russia Business Council and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.

Under the theme "Partnership Without Borders," the Forum featured four discussion sessions focusing on cross-border information technology and artificial intelligence cooperation; financial technology and smart cities; international trade, food security, transport and logistics connectivity between Russia and ASEAN countries; ASEAN-EAEU partnership and cooperation in energy, infrastructure and industry; as well as traditional spiritual and moral values and state-religion relations models in Russia and ASEAN countries.

In his opening remarks at the Forum, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung expressed his pleasure at attending the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum in Kazan, an important gateway connecting Europe and Asia, tradition and innovation. He described the Forum as an opportunity to share strategic orientations for broader, more substantive, better-connected and more resilient cooperation in the future.

According to the Prime Minister, amid rapid and complex global developments, the need for reliable partners, stable markets and resilient supply chains has become more urgent than ever. Based on the complementary strengths and potential between ASEAN and the Russian Federation, the PM shared several key directions for future cooperation.

First, the Prime Minister proposed developing sustainable supply chains and enhancing trade and investment. ASEAN and Russia should cooperate in building stable, flexible and highly resilient supply chains capable of withstanding external shocks.

According to the Prime Minister, developing transport routes linking Russia's Far East with Southeast Asia, including seaports and railways, would not only help narrow geographical distances and facilitate trade, but also create numerous opportunities for cooperation and investment for businesses on both sides.

At the same time, enterprises from both sides should make more effective use of existing economic cooperation frameworks, particularly free trade agreements between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and several ASEAN member states. Vietnam stands ready to serve as a bridge to promote trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and the EAEU in general, and with the Russian Federation in particular.

The second priority highlighted by the Prime Minister was making energy a key pillar of ASEAN-Russia cooperation. He noted that energy security remains one of the most pressing challenges facing growth and sustainable development worldwide. There remains substantial potential for investment and cooperation between ASEAN and Russia, particularly in clean energy, LNG, hydrogen, offshore wind power and energy-saving technologies.

Emphasizing that energy is an important pillar of Vietnam-Russia cooperation, Prime Minister Hung stated that Vietnam wishes to work with Russia and ASEAN countries to develop practical cooperation projects, especially in clean energy and green technologies, thereby contributing to regional energy stability and security.

The third major direction is promoting cooperation in technology, innovation and digital transformation, which is expected to become one of the most important areas of ASEAN-Russia cooperation in the coming period.

ASEAN in general, and Vietnam in particular, is among the world's fastest-growing digital markets. In Vietnam, innovation, science and technology have been identified as key drivers of development in the new era.

In this spirit, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said Vietnam welcomes and stands ready to facilitate stronger cooperation by Russian enterprises in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital education and digital healthcare. At the same time, he called on ASEAN and Russia to advance innovation cooperation programs, support technology startups and young enterprises, and foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem that closely connects the business communities of both sides.

Emphasizing that governments bear responsibility for creating a stable, transparent and business-friendly environment, while enterprises are the pioneering force in translating cooperation into tangible outcomes and linking economies together, the Vietnamese Government leader expressed his hope that the business communities of ASEAN and Russia would continue making long-term investments and jointly build new value chains for the future that deliver shared benefits.

He affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to work with the Russian Federation and ASEAN countries to transform potential into concrete projects, connectivity into business opportunities, and trust into a new driver of growth.

Addressing the Forum, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that amid rising geopolitical tensions, no country, regardless of its size, can tackle challenges alone. Therefore, dialogue, trust-building, practical cooperation, policy coordination, the removal of tariff barriers, the creation of a favorable business environment, and the promotion of a rules-based multilateral trading system constitute the path forward for ASEAN and Russia.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul noted that rapid advances in science and technology, together with instability in global supply chains, are creating both opportunities and challenges for the region and the world, requiring ASEAN and Russia to adapt accordingly. He proposed that the two sides focus on three priority areas: connectivity, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges. Connectivity, he said, forms the foundation for economic activities, while energy cooperation and food security should remain key priorities. People-to-people exchanges should focus on tourism, wellness and healthcare services, and the creative economy.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn proposed four areas that ASEAN and Russian businesses should prioritize in the coming years, namely energy security, food security, supply chain connectivity, and cooperation in emerging economic sectors and digital transformation. He emphasized that ASEAN's flagship initiatives, including the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), provide significant opportunities for businesses from both sides to explore and capitalize on.

Representatives of ASEAN and Russian businesses underscored the urgent need to expand markets, increase investment and participate in stable and reliable international supply chains. With a combined population of around 850 million people, businesses and experts agreed that ASEAN and Russia possess significant potential for deeper cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

In particular, amid disruptions to global energy and food supply chains, ASEAN-Russia cooperation on energy security and food security was regarded as a timely topic that directly addresses the needs and priorities of both sides.

In addition, with an estimated 220 million people aged between 15 and 34 and approximately 75% of the population enjoying broad internet access, ASEAN offers enormous potential for accelerated cooperation with Russia in information technology, digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Many delegates affirmed that decades of cooperation, investment and business ties between ASEAN and Russia have created a strong foundation of trust and favorable conditions for enterprises on both sides to strengthen partnerships, expand cooperation and scale up business activities in the years ahead.