KAZAN — President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday for a two-day summit in Kazan. The meeting aimed to expand business and strategic ties, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations.

The summit agenda included discussions on global and regional issues, along with a review of efforts to develop Russia-ASEAN relations. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said, "Participants are set to underline their adherence to forming a just and democratic multipolar world order based on the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter." He added, "Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have engaged in fruitful, equal and constructive dialogue."

Putin co-chaired the summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose country holds the ASEAN rotating presidency. Marcos Jr. thanked Putin for organizing the meeting and extended an invitation to the ASEAN summit in Manila in November. Putin also held bilateral meetings with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

During the summit, Putin sent a message greeting participants at a business forum held on the sidelines. He stated that the forum would create new opportunities for expanding mutually beneficial trade, investment, and industrial cooperation, while also strengthening direct dialogue between business communities. He added that their countries share mutually beneficial cooperation built on good traditions, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s legitimate interests.

Putin said that Russia and ASEAN states jointly stand for forming a just world order and defend the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference into internal affairs. He also indicated that all participating states follow their own models of development and do not impose their views on anyone. Putin affirmed Russia's readiness to continue active joint work with ASEAN member states to strengthen strategic partnership, in the interests of ensuring security, well-being and prosperity of their countries and peoples, as well as the Eurasian region.

ASEAN includes member states Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam. ASEAN maintains a relationship with Moscow as a dialogue partner, with officials engaging in annual top-level meetings. Some ASEAN member countries have diplomatic and security alignments with the U.S., while others have trade and security engagements with China and Russia. Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have imported Russian crude oil or expressed interest in purchasing it following an increase in global fuel prices related to the conflict in Iran.

No independent assessment of Vladimir Putin’s claims was available.