On 17 June 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, to attend the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit to celebrate the 35th anniversary of ASEAN–Russia relations in Kazan, Russian Federation, during 17–18 June 2026.

The Prime Minister delivered a statement, emphasizing Thailand’s strengths and efforts to advance economic and regulatory reform to open up new economic opportunities to attract foreign investment. The Prime Minister also highlighted Thailand as a regional leader in food and agriculture, tourism, medical services and green transition, and underlined three key areas to foster economic cooperation between ASEAN Member Countries and Russia: (1) connectivity, by reaffirming Thailand’s role as a strategic gateway to ASEAN to enhance business links between Russia and Southeast Asia; (2) trade and investment, by welcoming increased Russian investment in sectors such as digital technology, agriculture, tourism, and the creative economy, and expressing support for exploring a Thailand–EAEU Free Trade Agreement; and (3) people-to-people exchanges, by welcoming tourists from Russia and emphasizing the importance of tourism, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in medical tourism to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen long-term people-to-people ties.

The Forum aimed to be a discussion platform between the leaders and the business community from ASEAN member states and Russia to help foster trade, economic and investment cooperation between ASEAN member states and Russia, as well as on collaboration within the framework of the ASEAN – EAEU partnership.