DILI, 18 June 2026 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, on Wednesday, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, marking their first meeting since Timor-Leste formally joined ASEAN last year.
The meeting took place during a welcoming reception for heads of delegations attending the Russia-ASEAN Summit, where Gusmão joined other ASEAN leaders in greeting President Vladimir Putin
In his welcoming remarks to participants of the summit, Putin highlighted the longstanding partnership between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying cooperation was built on mutual trust and shared interests.
“I am sure that we can look forward to the future with optimism, as cooperation between Russia and ASEAN is based on strong bonds of friendship and mutual assistance as well as the accumulated experience of partnership work,” Putin said at a ceremonial reception dedicated to the 2026 Russia-ASEAN Summit, according to the Russian News Agency.
Putin said Russia is ready to continue its active joint work with the ASEAN member states in order to strengthen the strategic partnership that benefits interests of ensuring the security, well-being and prosperity of these countries and their peoples, as well as the Eurasian region as a whole.
Gusmão attended the gathering alongside other ASEAN leaders, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
Russia previously hosted a similar summit in 2016 in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations.
The Philippines currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship, while the previous Russia-ASEAN Summit was held via videoconference in 2021.
TATOLI
