Vietnam Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng leads delegation to Russia for ASEAN‑Russia summit

Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng made his first overseas trip as Vietnam’s head of government to Russia, heading a senior delegation to the ASEAN‑Russia summit marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The conference was held in Kazan on June 17‑18, where the Vietnamese leader is scheduled to meet President Vladimir Putin and discuss deepening cooperation in trade, science, technology, digital transformation, non‑traditional security, education, tourism and especially energy, including the Ninh Thuận 1 nuclear power project.

Russian expert Vladimir Mazyrin highlighted ASEAN’s growing importance as a strategic Asian partner, noting Russia’s push for a field‑specific strategic partnership that focuses on supply‑chain diversification and resilience amid global economic volatility. He cited recent visits by leaders of Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam and emphasized the role of ASEAN‑Russia collaboration in the broader Eurasian‑Asian context, with Vietnam positioned as a key bridge between the two regions.