Thailand and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the partnership between them, as the two countries prepare to commemorate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on 18 June 2026 attended a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Russian Federation, on 17-18 June 2026.

The two leaders underscored the importance of high-level exchanges and discussed ways to enhance trade and investment, particularly in sectors where both sides possess strong potential, including science and technology, and agriculture. 

They also agreed to advance efforts toward the commencement of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The two sides further exchanged views on cooperation in defense and security, Russia’s readiness to supply energy resources, including oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and fertilizers to Thailand, as well as the promotion of two-way tourism.

In addition, the Thai side reaffirmed the importance of upholding the rules-based international order and multilateralism, while seeking to strengthen cooperation within the frameworks of ASEAN, APEC, and BRICS amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. In this regard, Thailand emphasized Russia’s role as a key player in the Eurasian region.

In 2025, Thailand welcomed almost two million Russian tourists, who were the largest group of visitors to Thailand from Europe. Bilateral trade between Thailand and Russia now stands at 1.5 billion US dollars.

Prime Minister Anutin also took the opportunity to extend an invitation for Russian businesses to use Thailand as trade and investment base to reach out to over 700 million ASEAN citizens.

During his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister also had a royal audience with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit.  He congratulated His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen, who was also present, on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam and welcomed the close relations between the two countries. Both sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, as well as exchange of high-level visits and potential cooperation in the fields of medical tourism and food and energy security.