ASEAN News & Analysis

ASEAN

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 28, 2026

Russia At The United Nations: 50 Meetings – Multipolar Connectivity, Selective Western Dialogue and Economic Diversification: Analysis

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov has held 50 meetings while attending the United Nations in New York. We examine each of these, including important discussions with the United States, and Germany and look at the significance of Russia’s expanding international diplomacy and what this means in terms of foreign policy developments and potential outcomes.

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Featured September 27, 2026

The 2026 TNF Industrial & Energy Forum: Russia’s Energy Technology Base, Industrial Localization And International Markets: Analysis

The annual TNF Energy forum has concluded in Tyumen, featuring significant energy participation involving China, ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The event laid out Russia’s energy dynamics, exports and infrastructure build with oil and gas companies, equipment manufacturers, oilfield-service providers, technology developers, universities, government institutions and foreign energy partners. We assess the likely impact and global energy flows. This article is essential reading for anyone interested in Russia’s global energy development.

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September 24, 2026

The Eurasian Economic Union & The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s 2027-2030 Action Plan: Content & Analysis

The Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have agreed a Joint Action Plan to cover the period 2027-2030. This covers important trade development areas including digitalization, information and communication technologies, customs regulation, agro-industry, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, consumer protection, green-economy issues and information exchange. We deep dive the contents to explain exactly what this means and the impact on EAEU and SCO members.

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September 23, 2026

Growing Russia-Hong Kong Economic Relations: From Trade & Investment to a Greater Bay Area Business Gateway

Hong Kong has just hosted a Russian business mission, with both local and Russian companies interacting to explore potential for local market and Greater Bay Area penetration for Russian products. Hong Kong is also well positioned to assist Russia exporters access markets in ASEAN. Current Russia-Hong Kong trade hit US$2 billion in H1 2026, while the SAR also providing non-cash financial services to Russian companies trading with China – Hong Kong has handled over 100 tonnes of Russian gold bullion destined for China this year.

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September 16, 2026

The New Development Bank’s New Investment Platform: Revolutionizing BRICS Payments and Investments

The (BRICS) New Development Bank has been given a new strategic focus with its New Investment Platform giving it a far more significant role in trade development and investment. This has flown somewhat under the radar and been little commented on – however the implications are substantial. It will significantly improve BRICS trade and investment as well as change global trade flows. We explain the NDB’s New Investment Platform, what it includes, how it works and the impact on project financing and future trade.

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September 12, 2026

Russia-Vietnam Bilateral Relations – A Deep Dive into the 50-Point Joint Statement, 21 Deals and Other Major Outcomes: Analysis

Most reports on the Putin-To Lam meetings omitted details of the two countries 50-Point Joint Statement and the 21 strategic development documents. In this follow-up artcle we identify in detail exactly what these were and the implications for Russia-Vietnam-ASEAN trade development. It is essential reading for anyone involved in ASEAN affairs.

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September 10, 2026

Russia-Vietnam Bilateral Relations, Trade, Infrastructure & Development: September 2026 Update

The Russian and Vietnamese Presidents have met in Moscow with sizeable delegations accompanying them. Comprehensive talks were held concerning energy, infrastructure, investments and finance, with an emphasis on direct Moscow-Hanoi rail connectivity, nuclear power, and a near-tripling of bilateral trade by 2030. We provide full details of what was discussed and the implications for Vietnam and the wider ASEAN region.

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September 8, 2026

The 2026 Eastern Economic Forum: Results, Signed Agreements & Analysis

The Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok has concluded with a huge US$79 billion worth of agreements signed. With significant delegations from China, India, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia and the ASEAN countries all involved, we deep dive what investments are being made and where, the status of the announced deals, and the overall impact this significant event will have on the Russian Far East’s integration into the rest of Asia – as well as the issues to overcome. This is essential reading for anyone involved in East Asian affairs.

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September 4, 2026

VTB Launches QR Code Payments System In Indonesia and The Philippines

Russia’s VTB bank has launched its QR code payment service to Indonesia and the Philippines. Both are increasingly popular with Russian tourists, with the system avoiding Western payment mechanisms with direct debit from Russian clients’ ruble bank accounts at the prevailing exchange rate from the relevant local store in rupiah or pesos. There is no commission on the transaction.

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