Kazan: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia should strengthen security, economic, and cultural ties to attain peace, prosperity, and people-centered growth, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stated. During the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Russia, Marcos highlighted the significance of advancing the strategic partnership between the regional bloc and Moscow, underscoring 35 years of collaboration grounded in mutual respect, shared interests, and a commitment to peaceful cooperation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos recalled Russia's initial steps in joining the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur 35 years ago, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership. He emphasized that the guiding principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and the commitment to peaceful cooperation, as outlined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, remain as vital today as they were in the past. These principles continue to serve as guides for the future.
Amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, Marcos underscored the necessity of enhancing political and security engagement between ASEAN and Russia. He noted that key transnational threats transcend borders, requiring coordinated cooperation rather than reactive measures. Strengthening maritime security, counter-terrorism efforts, and cyber resilience emerged as urgent priorities to safeguard regional and global peace, security, and stability.
Marcos also called for a dynamic economic partnership to achieve sustainable growth. He urged ASEAN and Russia to be more deliberate and ambitious in expanding economic opportunities, improving trade facilitation, deepening investment flows, and connecting business communities. He pointed out that while trade and investment ties have grown, they have yet to reach their full potential. Food and energy security were highlighted as cornerstones of broader regional stability.
Economic cooperation, Marcos emphasized, must be inclusive, empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises, and focusing on emerging sectors crucial for shaping the future global economy. He also stressed the importance of people-to-people connectivity between ASEAN and Russia, citing scholarships, student exchanges, academic partnerships, tourism, and the arts as vital pillars for sustaining the partnership.
Marcos highlighted that these connections are central to the relationship and outlast any summit declaration, carrying the partnership forward in ways that policy alone cannot achieve. He advocated for investing in youth engagement, positioning them as active agents in shaping the future of ASEAN-Russia cooperation. By placing youth at the center of this cooperation, they will ultimately decide the future trajectory of ASEAN-Russia relations.
