From Nurul Hanis Izmir
KAZAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to address the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum here today as part of programmes held in conjunction with the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.
He will participate in the forum at Kazan IT Park, where he will be welcomed by Minister of Digitalisation of Public Administration, Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilya Nachvin.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, will deliver an address to business representatives and officials from ASEAN member states and Russia.
Later, he will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit Gala Dinner at the Tatar State Academic Theater, where he is also scheduled to join a courtesy call on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Malaysia is participating in the commemorative summit as part of ASEAN’s engagement with Russia. The ASEAN-Russia Summit serves as the highest-level platform for engagement between ASEAN and Russia, reflecting a partnership that has evolved significantly since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991.
Russia became a full ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 1996, and the relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2018, emphasising both sides’ commitment to expanding cooperation in political-security, economic and socio-cultural areas.
Meanwhile, this year’s summit in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, is particularly significant as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations.
Located at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka rivers in European Russia, about 800 kilometres east of Moscow, the city has a population of approximately 1.3 million people and often referred to as Russia’s ‘third capital’ after Moscow and St Petersburg.
Boasting a history spanning more than 1,000 years, Kazan is widely regarded as one of the country’s most important centres of Islamic culture and heritage. The city also serves as a bridge between the Russian and Muslim worlds, making it a fitting venue for discussions involving ASEAN and Russia.
In 2024, total ASEAN-Russia trade amounted to USD18.1 billion, while Russian foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN stood at USD92.97 million (RM367.90 million).
For Malaysia, Russia was the country’s ninth-largest trading partner among European countries in 2025, with total trade valued at RM8.72 billion (USD2.04 billion).
Malaysia’s main exports to Russia comprise electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and parts, as well as processed food products, while its principal imports from Russia include petroleum products, minerals, chemicals and chemical-based products.
— BERNAMA
