The ASEAN-Russia Strategic Programme on Trade and Investment Cooperation 2026-2035 is a strategic document that provides an avenue for ASEAN and Russia cooperation in the sphere of trade and economy and sets the framework for future cooperation in emerging issues of mutual interests namely on digital transformation, science, technology and innovation, transport and mobility, agriculture, energy and mineral, sustainable development, and tourism.

Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and EAEU

The EAEU has been actively exploring trade and economic cooperation with ASEAN, in particular since the launching of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). At the 5^th AEM-Russia Consultations on 5 August 2016, ASEAN welcomed Russia’s proposal for a joint feasibility study of a possible FTA between ASEAN and the EAEU. The Ministers tasked senior economic officials to further elaborate and work on this issue. In the following year, the Ministers noted the recommendations to build confidence through policy dialogues and activities under the Work Program before embarking on a joint feasibility study.

A Memorandum between ASEAN and EAU on Economic Cooperation (the MoU) was signed on 14 November 2018 in Singapore, at the sidelines of the 3^rd ASEAN-Russia Summit by the then Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. SG Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the then Chairman of the Board of the EEC, Mr. Tigran Sargasyan. The MoU is considered as the first step in establishing closer cooperation between the EAEU and ASEAN. The MOU comprises a total of nine articles which lay the groundwork for enhanced economic cooperation and development of new areas of cooperation (i.e. customs procedures and trade facilitation; sanitary and phytosanitary; technical regulations; e-commerce; trade in services and investment, business development primarily for MSMEs; and other areas to be mutually agreed upon by the participants).

To implement the MoU, a Programme of Cooperation for 2019/2020 (the PoC) was endorsed by the Ministers at the 8^th AEM-Russia Consultations in September 2019. The PoC consists of various activities ranging from High-Level Dialogue, Business Community engagements, joint events at the platform of international organization, and consultation between experts and exchange of knowledge.

 At the 9^th AEM-Russia Consultations on 28 August 2020, the Ministers endorsed the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of the PoC until 2025. One of the highlights in the implementation of the ASEAN-EEC PoC for 2020-2025 is the organisation of the ASEAN-EAEU Days which was held on 20-24 November 2023 in ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEAN-EAEU Days in 2023 was opened by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and H.E. Sergey Glazief, Member of the Board, Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission. Deputy Ministers of Russia, Ambassadors of ASEAN Member States, the EAEU Countries, and other countries also attended the opening. The ASEAN-EAEU Days also featured a reception that highlights various national cuisines of the EAEU Member States, photo exhibition, demonstration of videos, and distribution of informal brochures, highlighting the main areas of cooperation between ASEAN and EAEU. Two roundtables on ASEAN-EAEU economic cooperation were also held during that week.

To ensure the continuity of the economic cooperation between ASEAN and the EEC, another PoC was developed for the period of 2026-2030. The ASEAN-EEC PoC for 2026-2030 covers a range of topics, including trade, customs and trade facilitation, competition policy, financial market, digital transformation, transport, energy, blue economy, and agriculture.