PRIME Minister Anutin Charnvirakul today (June 17) drew attention to Thailand as a gateway connecting Russia to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) at the Special Asean-Russia Summit and the Asean-Russia Business Forum being held in the Russian city Kazan, Amarin TV said.
Ms. Rachada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office, said Anutin, who together with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the business forum, in his keynote speech highlighted Thailand’s potential as a central hub for economic, trade, and investment connectivity between Russia and the Asean region.
He also invited Russian businesses to use Thailand as a base to expand into the Asean market, which has a population of over 700 million.
Anutin also stated that 2026 is of particular importance as it marks the 35th anniversary of Asean-Russia relations with cooperation continuously developing amidst a rapidly changing global economic context. Thailand is driving economic restructuring and regulatory reforms to open up new economic opportunities, while the FastPass Initiative helped Thailand attract the highest amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 10 years last year.
Anutin proposed three key areas of economic cooperation between Thailand and Russia as follows:
– Connectivity: Thailand is well-equipped with infrastructure, logistics systems, deep-sea ports, aviation networks, and digital connectivity, ready to serve as a “strategic gateway” connecting Russian businesses to the high-potential Asean markets.
Thailand will continue to develop the digital economy through investment in digital infrastructure, innovative ecosystems, and smart industries, as well as support the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which will help create a more connected, secure, and inclusive digital market.
– Trade and Investment: Anutin emphasised the importance of maintaining the multilateral trading system. Market diversification and enhancing food and energy security are key areas of cooperation. Russia, as one of the world’s largest natural gas producers, and Thailand, a major food producer, can enhance economic cooperation. The Prime Minister also welcomed the increasing interest of Russian investors in Thailand, particularly in the digital, agricultural, tourism, and creative economy sectors.
– People-to-People Exchanges: Thailand welcomes approximately two million Russian tourists annually and is ready to promote cooperation in health and medical tourism, as well as developing cooperation in creative economy and culture to create economic value and strengthen close ties between the people of both countries.
Next year Thailand and Russia will celebrate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a significant opportunity to further enhance economic cooperation. Thailand is ready to work with Russia and Asean member states to build a more interconnected, innovation-driven, and sustainably prosperous future, he said.
CAPTION:
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul giving a speech and participating at the Asean-Russia Business Forum today, June 17, 2026. Photos – Amarin TV
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