Russian Mission to ASEAN

✍️ Joint article by Ambassador of Russia to ASEAN Evgeny Zagaynov and Ambassador of Russia to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov on the occasion of the Russia Diplomats' Day published in The Jakarta Post (February 10, 2026) Key points: 🔹️ On February 10, Russian Foreign Ministry staff celebrate their professional holiday – Diplomats’ Day of the Russian Federation. On this day, back in 1549, the “Posolsky Prikaz,” which became the prototype for today's Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, was first mentioned in old archival documents. 🔹️ Russia consistently defends its interests, neither claiming anyone's legitimate rights nor allowing others to take liberties with its own. Our country continues to expand its diverse cooperation with all reasonable partners, and above all, with the Global Majority – the states of Greater Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America. 🔹️ Russia contributes to the creation of a Eurasian security architecture and the establishment of mechanisms for international cooperation that are immune to the destructive influence of a Western minority. 🔹️ As Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized, we are committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis. Unfortunately, among the Western sponsors of the Kiev regime, only the United States has so far understood the importance of taking Russian vital interests into account and proposed solutions that address the root causes of the crisis. 🔹️ The year 2026 marks an important milestone – the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the relations between Russia and ASEAN, which reflects the maturity and steady progress of our Strategic Partnership. 🔹️ We are tailoring our cooperation agenda with ASEAN to the needs of the region. Particular attention is paid to expanding collaboration in science and technology, agriculture, digitalization, education, and energy, including civilian nuclear energy. Russia consistently supports ASEAN's central role in the regional security architecture and opposes attempts to dilute it through the creation of a network of exclusive minilateral formations. 🔹️ Russian diplomacy will continue to focus its efforts on deepening a comprehensive and trust-based dialogue with Indonesia and other ASEAN Member States, grounded in respect for international law, mutual interests, the principles of consensus, and non-interference in internal affairs. 🔹️ We consider maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia as an essential factor in strengthening the region’s role as a key element of the emerging multipolar world order. Building closer ties between multilateral organizations committed to constructive diplomacy, such as #ASEAN, the #SCO, and the #EAEU, is particularly important. Published in the authors’ original edition. #DiplomatsDay

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sgreetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026) 💬 Friends, Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday. I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad. The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable. We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland. Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation. Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people. In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order. We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness. Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran. We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS. Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future. ☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties. I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President. On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks. By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland. Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland. #DiplomatsDay

📰 Russia's Ambassador to ASEAN Evgeny Zagaynov’s article “ASEAN–Russia Highway to a Shared Future” (The Antara News, 13 December 2025) 👉 Read in full: (The Antara News) (Telegraph) Key points: 🔹 This month marks 20 years since the first ASEAN–Russia Summit in Kuala Lumpur (13 December 2005), a milestone that set the foundations of today’s partnership. The ASEAN-Russia Joint Declaration on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership that was adopted on that day defined the main goals and areas of our joint work for the years ahead and shaped the strategic trajectory of cooperation. 🔹 Russia’s engagement with ASEAN-led mechanisms took root in Kuala Lumpur, where President Vladimir Putin participated in the very first East Asia Summit. This paved the way for Russia’s full integration into ASEAN-centred regional architecture. 🔹 Over two decades, ASEAN–Russia relations have proven genuinely multidimensional, driven by mutual respect, shared principles, and practical cooperation across political–security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars. 🔹 The partnership continues to expand, with new mechanisms such as the ASEAN–Russia Consultations of High Representatives for Security Issues and the Dialogue on ICT Security. Russia has also become an ASEAN Digital Partner, and the first Senior Officials Meeting on digital technologies convened in Bangkok. 🔹 ASEAN–Russia trade reached record levels in 2024, growing by 13% despite an unfavourable global environment. 🔹 Cooperation in energy, biosafety, smart cities, and cutting-edge technologies is accelerating. A new MoU between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and Rosatom strengthens collaboration on peaceful nuclear energy, while the ASEAN–Russia Project on Capacity Building on Energy Statistics is underway. 🔹 People-to-people ties and expertise development remain priorities. Russia continues to expand training programmes for ASEAN specialists, with particular focus on youth cooperation. The Russian MGIMO University Master's program "Politics and Economics of the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership" saw its first graduating class in 2024. 🔹The ASEAN Centre in MGIMO has become the leading hub for expert dialogue, marking its 15th anniversary with a major international conference bringing together diplomats, scholars, analysts, and young researchers to explore new areas of cooperation. 🔹 ASEAN and Russia increasingly coordinate within wider regional and global frameworks, including #SCO, #EAEU, and #BRICS. Shared values and complementary agendas make these platforms natural spaces for deepening synergy. 🔹 Russia consistently supports ASEAN’s strategic autonomy, especially amid growing geopolitical pressures and unilateral tendencies. ASEAN’s independent voice strengthens the broader Global South and contributes to more balanced global governance. 🔹 Looking ahead, Russia and ASEAN reaffirm their commitment to a shared, prosperous future, building on two decades of cooperation and paving the way for deeper partnership in an emerging multipolar world.

📰Article by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for Lao media 🇷🇺🇱🇦 “Russia and Laos: 65 Years of Time-Tested Friendship”(November 20, 2025) Full article (Telegraph) ✍️ On October 7, 2025, Russia and Laos marked the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past decades, much has changed in our countries and in the world at large. What has remained immutable are the unifying traditions of friendship, mutual assistance, and camaraderie, rooted in the years of the national liberation struggle of the Lao people against French colonialists and American aggressors. *** Key points: • The USSR took active part in the 1954 Geneva Conference, which put an end to French colonial rule in Indochina, and acted as a guarantor of Laos’s neutrality. During the “undeclared war”, extensive material support from the Soviet Union was an important factor in the victory of the Lao patriotic forces. • #RussiaLaos: Today, Russian-Lao cooperation is dynamically advancing in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations between Russia and the Lao PDR of March 9, 1994, and the Declaration on bilateral Strategic Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region of October 13, 2011. • We attach great importance to the development of Russian-Lao practical cooperation, the volume of which continues to grow. The primary tasks in this area are the creation of new effective transport and logistics routes, the implementation of large joint investment projects, primarily in the fields of energy, exploration and mining, as well as support for the activities of small and medium-sized businesses. <…> We see good prospects in the project to construct a small modular reactor nuclear power plant in the Lao PDR with the participation of the Rosatom State Corporation. ❗️The strengthening strategic partnership between Russia and Laos allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. • The priorities for joint work are determined by the leaders of our countries during their intensive and trust-based dialogue. On July 31, 2025, talks were held between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith during his official visit to Russia. In 2024, two meetings of the Heads of State took place – on May 9 in Moscow and on October 24 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan. • Our countries’ approaches to a wide range of international issues coincide or are very close. We advocate for the unconditional observance of the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, fullness, and interconnectedness. We are firmly committed to the formation of a just multipolar world order. • We appreciate the desire of our Lao partners to establish contacts with the leading associations of the World Majority, including #BRICS and the #SCO, to “build bridges” with the #EAEU, and to participate in the processes of creating the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Eurasian security architecture. • We welcome Laos’s independent foreign policy, including its balanced position in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. Obviously, a lasting settlement of the conflict is only possible through eliminating its root causes • The strengthening strategic partnership between our countries allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. The 65 years of cooperation is evidence that we can solve the most complex issues for the benefit of our countries and peoples, in the interests of ensuring universal peace and prosperity.

🗓 On September 18, the deputy head of the Russian Mission to ASEAN Mr. Andrey Yudin🇷🇺 took part in the 2nd ”Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (#TAC)” held at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta 🇮🇩. Key points of the intervention: 🔹️On September 3, we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the end of the World War II – the bloodiest conflict in the history of mankind that affected over 80 percent of the world’s population, including the Asia-Pacific region. 🔹️The defeat of Nazism and militarism created the conditions for decolonisation process in Asia and the subsequent formation of the modern regional security and cooperation architecture with ASEAN in its core. The TAC is one of the key elements of this architecture. 🔹️The TAC has served for almost a half-century as the key code of conduct in governing inter-state relations in the region and as a foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability. 🔹️The aspirations and spirit of the TAC resonate with the fundamental pillars of the foreign policy of Russia 🇷🇺. Both ASEAN and Russia remain committed to the values of multilateralism, equitable inter-state cooperation and peaceful sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region. 🔹️Further development of cross platform ties in line with article 6 of the TAC between ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (#EEU), which share the same principles and goals, will be of great mutual benefit and help to create a transregional space of peaceful co-development.

📸#FamilyPhoto Russia's President Vladimir Putin took part in a photo ceremony together with the Leaders before the start of the Meeting of the #SCO Heads of State Council 📌 Tianjin, China

🗓 On August 8, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations mark ASEAN Day. 🌏#ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, which signed the Bangkok Declaration. The regional organisation subsequently expanded to include Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999). ASEAN stands as one of the most successful regional organisations, forming the nucleus for a network of diverse intergovernmental associations engaging Russia and other leading global powers – including the East Asia Summit (#EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (#ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (#ADMMPlus). Strengthening relations with ASEAN remains one of Russia’s top foreign policy priorities in Asia. The Russian Permanent Mission to ASEAN has been based in Jakarta since 2017. In 2018, Russia-ASEAN ties reached the level of strategic partnership. 📈 In 2024, trade between Russia and ASEAN nations grew by 5.8% to $23.2 billion. During the first nine months of 2024, total capital investments from ASEAN states into the Russian economy amounted to $2.3 billion, while total Russian investments in Southeast Asia reached $12.4 billion. ASEAN’s cooperation with the #EAEU and #SCO is progressing successfully, under Memoranda of Understanding signed between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission (2018) and the SCO Secretariat (2005). This year marks the 20th anniversary of the inaugural #RussiaASEAN Summit. On July 10, 2025, Kuala Lumpur hosted the annual meeting between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member states. 💬Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: ASEAN countries’ interest in collaboration with Russia exists irrespective of what is going on in the West and what the United States and its allies are undertaking with respect to them. It is not the case that, “had the West not coerced us, we would not have engaged with Russia.” Not at all. Our friendship started long before the current US administration imposed tariff-based sanctions. (excerpt from Foreign Minister Lavrov’s Q&A session following the Russia-ASEAN consultations and the East Asia Summit Ministerial Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, July 11, 2025.) #RussiaASEAN

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks following the SCO Foreign Ministers Council Meeting (Tianjin, July 15, 2025) Key talking points: 💬 The meeting of the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers has just concluded in the city of Tianjin. This marked the culminating stage of preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit, which will likewise be held here in Tianjin in late August — early September of this year. All participants unanimously acknowledged the business-like, focusednature of our efforts. In this context, we attach particular significance to this morning’s meeting with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, who shared his assessments of joint efforts under China’s chairmanship and his vision of the key tasks for the progressive development of our Organisation. 🌐 The discussion confirmed a shared understanding of the growing importance of the SCO’s collective potential in both regional and global affairs. <...> The prevailing trend towards further consolidation of the SCO and the enhancement of its role on the international stage is encouraging. We affirmed that our common approach of strengthening the SCO as oneof the central pillars of a more equitable, #MultipolarWorld order remains unchanged. <...> Considerable number of nations are seeking to join the SCO’s work. The geographical scope of our structure spans a significant portion of the Eurasian continent. We noted that cooperation within our Organisation objectively contributes to the creation of an architecture of equal and indivisible security across Eurasia. <...> We expressed support for further expanding the SCO’s engagement with external actors. A new step in this direction will be the upcoming high-level meetings in the #SCO format at the Tianjin Summit — the first of their kind. We anticipate the participation of representatives from approximately 30 states and multilateral organisations in this event. This underscores the SCO’s growing constructive agenda and its appeal to nations of the #GlobalSouth and the #WorldMajority. We provided our colleagues with detailed assessments of the latest developments in Ukraine and reaffirmed our well-known approaches to resolving the crisis, repeatedly articulated by President of Russia Vladimir Putin. In turn, our partners demonstrated an understanding of these positions. Once again, we emphasised the necessity of addressing the root causes of the conflict, recognising the existing territorial realities <...>. Regarding the developments in the #MiddleEast, it was noted that sustainable stabilisation in the region is impossible without a just and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict. These strategic guidelines, building on the accumulated experience of the ongoing upgrading, will be enshrined in the SCO Development Strategy through 2035. 👉 The resolutions adopted by Leaders on the aforementioned matters will establish a foundation for effective preparations in advance of the Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, scheduled for November 17–18, 2025, in Moscow under Russia’s chairmanship. Read in full

📸#FamilyPhoto Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in a photo ceremony together with Foreign Ministers of the #SCO Member States 📍 Tianjin, July 15

🇷🇺🇨🇳 On July 10, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yimet in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of ministerial events within the ASEAN framework. The Parties highly commended the development of political dialogue and practical collaboration between Russia and China amid heightened turbulence in the global system of international relations. The Ministers engaged in detailed discussions on cooperation within #ASEAN, particularly in light of certain countries’ intensified efforts to establish narrow-bloc military and political mechanisms aimed at undermining the ASEAN-centric system of security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. ❗️ Russia and China stand united in opposing actions and plans to militarise the region, including attempts to deploy NATO-standard military infrastructure. The Sides exchanged assessments on the resolution of a range of regional and international issues, as well as bilateral collaboration within the #UN, #BRICS, the #SCO, the #G20, and #APEC. The conversation, which reaffirmed the alignment of approaches on the topics discussed, was conducted in the traditionally trust-based and constructive manner characteristic of the Russia-China strategic partnership. #RussiaChina

🌏 On July 10-11 in Kuala Lumpur, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the annual ministerial events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN), including Foreign Ministers’ meetings in the format of Russia-ASEAN, the East Asia Summit (#EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (#ARF) on security. ASEAN is the centrepiece of a system of interstate associations involving leading global powers and cooperation processes in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). In the context of growing geopolitical risks, the current imperative is to strengthen the ASEAN-based architecture of security and cooperation, in particular, by enhancing the practical activities of its main multilateral mechanisms, including the EAS and the ARF. ☝️ Russia-ASEAN relations are a vital stabilising factor in the region amid the growing conflict potential in the APR. Moscow views ASEAN as a key partner in the implementation of President Vladimir Putin’s initiative for creating a Eurasian security architecture. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first #RussiaASEAN summit, which was also held in Kuala Lumpur. During the Russia-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on July 10, the sides will discuss a broad range of political, trade, economic, social and cultural issues in the framework of the implementation of the five-year Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, which their leaders approved in 2021, as well as the preparation of a similar document for the next five years. <...> 📈 In 2024, Russia’s trade with ASEAN countries has increased by 5.8 percent and reached $23.2 billion. Their total investment in the Russian economy in January through September 2024 amounted to $2.3 billion, and Russia’s total investment in Southeast Asia was $12.4 billion. <...> The Association has been successfully developing links with both the #EAEU and the #SCO, building upon the memorandums of understanding between ASEAN and the EEC (2018) as well as the SCO Secretariat (2005). *** 👉 The East Asia Summit serves as a platform for strategic dialogue among Asia-Pacific leaders, including on issues such as strengthening regional security architecture. Priority areas of sectoral cooperation span the economy, energy, environmental protection, public healthcare, maritime cooperation, emergency response, food security, education and regional connectivity. <...> Russia has put forward a package of specific initiatives for the East Asia Summit. These proposals comprise creating a pan-regional collaboration mechanism for epidemic prevention, strengthening economic links through expanded tourism collaboration and remote regions development. For 2025, we have proposed that EAS leaders adopt a joint statement on enhancing social and cultural connectivity. *** 👉 We regard the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as one of the crucial platforms for addressing topical regional challenges, developing measures to build confidence and advance preventive diplomacy, as well as fostering depoliticised security cooperation. Forum participants will approve several practical initiatives. Russia’s priorities include enhancing capabilities to prevent the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes. Read in full

🇷🇺🇱🇦 On June 25−29, Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Thongsavanh Phomvihane arrives in Moscow on an official visit. He is to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Minister of Construction and Utilities, Chair of the Russian chapter of the Russia-Laos Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Irek Fayzullin. Rooted in years-old traditions of friendship and cooperation, Russia-Laos ties enjoy a high level of trust. Our country has proactively supported the people of Laos in their national liberation struggle, as well as their efforts to establish and develop the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 🗓 October 7 will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. On March 9, 1994, Russia and Lao PDR signed the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations. In October 2011, they adopted a Declaration for Strategic Partnership between Russia and Laos in the Asia-Pacific Region. There has been positive momentum in the political dialogue between Russia and Laos, including at the highest level. <...> The two countries have also stepped up on the the parliamentary track, bolstering their ties. 🤝 Russia and Laos share close or converging views views on key international matters, which serves as a solid foundation for their effective cooperation within the leading international and regional structures. Vientiane has adopted a balanced position in the context of the Ukraine crisis and has demonstrated that it understood the causes which led to the special military operation. Laos has been supporting most of Russia’s initiatives at the UN General Assembly and has not joined the confrontational anti-Russian resolutions. The two countries have been working together within #ASEAN and other ASEAN-centric mechanisms in a constructive manner. Laos has expressed its readiness to take part in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) as a dialogue partner. <...> In his remarks at the #BRICS meeting in the outreach/BRICS+ format in October 2024 in Kazan, President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith said that his country was interested in joining BRICS in the future. One of the priority areas of bilateral relations is the development of military and military-technical cooperation. Lao representatives consistently participate in international events organised by the Russian Ministry of Defence. <...> Our two nations are intensifying collaboration in security and law enforcement. 📈 Bilateral trade and economic relations continue to grow steadily. In 2024, trade turnover between Russia and Laos increased by 65 percent to $23.8 million. Cultural engagements thrive. Education remains a vital area of cooperation. Over 8'000 civilian and 2'000 military specialists for Laos have been trained in Russia.