ASEAN News & Analysis

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Russia-ASEAN trade in 2025 showed significant growth, with trade up over 30% by August, focusing on energy, agriculture, digital tech and nuclear power, while the ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – sought diversified partners and access to Russian goods like components and resources, utilizing non-dollar payments amidst sanctions, with new cooperation plans for 2026-2035 being finalized. Discover trade agreements, investment flows, and business strategies for entering Southeast Asia’s dynamic markets from Russia, and vice-versa.

Featured September 1, 2026

The 2026 Eastern Economic Forum – Russia’s Far East Emerges As A New Gateway To Asian Economic Integration: A Complete Event Analysis

Your Guide to Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum, which starts on September 1 in Vladivostok. This is the premier event showcasing Russia’s real engagement with the entire Asian region. We deep dive what is happening, who is attending, the main themes and investment drivers, and why this is one of the most important and influential events of the year as concerns Russia’s Pivot To Asia. This is essential reading for anyone involved in Russia’s growing Asian and Far Eastern presence.

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Myanmar 2026 Trade
August 21, 2026

Russia-Myanmar 2026 Trade, Economic And Strategic Partnership: Analysis

The President of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing has been visiting Moscow. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and numerous other senior government and business leaders. We deep dive the bilateral relationship, with current volumes at US$2 billion but plans to substantially increase this. We look at the massive Dawei Port development, the implications for ASEAN and India, as well as the bilateral trade opportunities and the hurdles to overcome.

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Thailand QR Code
August 20, 2026

Russia’s VTB Opens QR Code Payments System In Thailand

Russia’s VTB bank has rolled out a QR code payment system throughout Thailand, allowing its Russian clients to make instantaneous payments of up to US$1,3460 a time via selected outlets. With 2 million Russian tourists expected to visit Thailand this year, the system bypasses Western financial sanctions and gives back independence to both Thai retailers and Russian consumers.

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Thailand 2026 Trade
August 19, 2026

Russia, Thailand 2026 Trade and Economic Development: Analysis

The Russia -Thailand Joint Trade Commission has met in Moscow, with Thailand pushing hard for a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. We deep dive the bilateral relationship, in a complementary trade and services basket that could see their trade increase to US$5 billion by 2030.

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Malaysia Economic Zones
August 15, 2026

Russia, Malaysia To Develop Special Joint Economic Zones

Russia and Malaysia are to collaborate on developing joint special economic zones in the Russian Far East. These are likely to include the agriculture, light manufacturing and energy sectors and lead to further future joint ventures between Russian and Malaysian manufacturers.

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Rail Partnerships
August 12, 2026

Russia’s Growing Railway Partnerships With Asia And The Global South: A Strategic, Geopolitical and Financial Analysis

Russia has been developing a massive international railway strategy that includes multiple industrial development sectors and infrastructure across Central Asia, the Middle East, India, China, and deep into Southeast Asia on a scale little recognised. We deep dive the expansion of Russia’s railway development, how it is managing this, and the potential new routes that could become available.

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ASEAN Meetings
July 26, 2026

Russia’s Three Day ASEAN & Global South Meetings In Manila: Key Takeaways & Analysis

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has held three days of meetings in Manila with all the ASEAN countries, in addition to meetings with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Brazil and the United States. These took place under the Russia-ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit. We provide detailed analysis of each of these discussions as well as examine the geopolitical and trade dynamics.

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