Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, took part in the Russia–ASEAN Summit in Kazan on June 17–18.
The Summit brought together heads of state and government from twelve countries, as well as representatives of a number of leading international associations, to discuss current issues of integration cooperation in the world, including in the Eurasian space.
Speaking at the “Outreach”/“Russia–ASEAN Plus” breakfast on the sidelines of the Summit, Bakytzhan Sagintayev emphasized that the Eurasian Economic Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are among the world’s most successful and dynamically developing integration associations.
According to Bakytzhan Sagintayev, despite differences in geography, economic structure and development models, the EAEU and ASEAN share a common objective: to create favorable conditions for business, enhance the competitiveness of their economies and improve citizens’ quality of life.“Our associations represent the interests of almost one billion people and form a significant economic space with strong potential for further growth, technological development and expanded international cooperation,” the EEC Board Chairman noted.
The strategic development agendas of the integration associations overlap in many areas, while their best practices are of mutual interest
Both associations, in particular, aim to advance digital and technological transformation, energy and infrastructure, food security, and macroeconomic stability.
“The EAEU is interested in further strengthening institutional ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We expect that the implementation of the EEC–ASEAN Cooperation Program for 2026–2030 will bring cooperation between our regions to a new level,” Bakytzhan Sagintayev concluded.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the EEC and ASEAN on Economic Cooperation had been signed in 2018. Memoranda of cooperation or understanding, as well as free trade agreements, have also been concluded with most ASEAN countries: Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar.
In 2025, a new EEC–ASEAN Cooperation Program for 2026–2030 was approved, laying the foundation for further implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding.
