ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn Visits Moscow

Dragon Media Newsroom

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn is in Moscow for a working visit from October 12 to 15. He is scheduled to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on October 13.

During the visit, Kao is also due to meet officials at the Presidential Executive Office and the Russian ministries responsible for emergency services, science and higher education, agriculture, digital development and communications, and energy. His programme includes a meeting with Bakytzhan Sagintayev, chairman of the board of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Kao is scheduled to meet business representatives and experts and address a thematic session of the Russian Energy Week International Forum. He is also due to speak at the conference “Russia and ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific Region” at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

ASEAN brings together 11 Southeast Asian countries with a combined population of 684 million. The organisation’s total gross domestic product is estimated at US$3.9 trillion, while its foreign trade turnover stands at US$3.8 trillion. ASEAN will mark its 60th anniversary in 2027.

Russia and ASEAN began their contacts in 1991, and their dialogue developed into a strategic partnership established in 2018. Russia has identified strengthening the partnership as one of its priorities in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Russia–ASEAN Summit, held in Kazan on June 17 and 18, marked the 35th anniversary of relations. Talks during Kao’s Moscow visit are expected to focus on advancing cooperation under the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the Russia–ASEAN Strategic Partnership for 2026–2030.