Anwar's Kazan Visit Bolsters Ties, Secures Long-term Russian Oil, Gas Supplies 

From Nurul Hanis Izmir

KAZAN, June 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s two-day working visit to Kazan marked a significant milestone in Malaysia-Russia relations, as both nations committed to bolstering cooperation in energy security, trade, investment, tourism, and technology.

The highlight of the mission was Russia's commitment to guaranteeing the long-term supply of petrol, oil, and gas to Malaysia, which Anwar said would provide greater energy security through stable, multi-year agreements rather than those renewed annually or on a seasonal basis.

"Instead, preparations will be made to establish a long-term agreement," he told Malaysian media during the closing press conference following his two-day working visit to the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit here.

He noted that Russia had not only assured the supply of petrol, oil, and gas but had also agreed to a long-term framework, adding that approval had been granted and discussions were in the final stages.

"Company representatives have already come here. It is now a matter of signing and finalising the agreement.

"As soon as we return, we will ask them to expedite the process. The draft is already available, the principles have already been agreed upon, and we are simply waiting for the delegation to review the details and sign it," he said.

On Tuesday, Anwar expressed appreciation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting enhanced energy cooperation, particularly involving Petronas, noting that bilateral mechanisms between the two nations had expanded to cover trade, investment, finance and the halal economy.

Beyond energy, Anwar stressed that Malaysia must adopt a bolder, more proactive stance to expand economic ties with Russia and other emerging partners, noting that the country can no longer be constrained by an overly cautious approach to international economic engagement.

The Prime Minister also called for the swift implementation of visa-free travel and the establishment of direct flights between Malaysia and Russia to boost tourist arrivals and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

At the regional level, Anwar welcomed the finalisation of the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Programme on Trade and Investment Cooperation 2026-2035, describing it as a vital catalyst for the next phase of economic collaboration.

The growing focus on economic cooperation comes amid expanding trade and investment ties between ASEAN and Russia.

In 2024, total ASEAN-Russia trade amounted to US$18.1 billion, while Russian foreign direct investment in ASEAN totaled RM367.90 million (US$92.97 million).

For Malaysia, Russia was the country's ninth-largest trading partner among European nations in 2025, with total trade valued at RM8.72 billion (US$2.04 billion).

Malaysia’s primary exports to Russia included electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and parts, and processed food, while principal imports consisted of petroleum products, minerals, chemicals and chemical-based products.

During the visit, Anwar also held a bilateral meeting with Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, during which both sides explored opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, tourism, the halal industry, technology, and talent development.

The energy sector featured prominently in the discussions, with Anwar highlighting opportunities in oil and gas, including downstream activities, refining and petrochemicals, given Tatarstan's position as one of Russia's major oil-producing regions.

Anwar said the potential for cooperation between Malaysia, ASEAN and Russia remained enormous, particularly in areas such as energy security, cybersecurity, agriculture, digital technology, scientific research and higher education.

He also expressed optimism that a memorandum of understanding on a peace agreement between the United States and Iran could pave the way towards ending the conflict and securing lasting peace in West Asia.

Anwar was in Kazan to attend the 35th ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

The Kazan visit concluded with Anwar departing for Turkmenistan for a two-day official visit, marking the next leg of his Central Asian tour aimed at strengthening energy cooperation and exploring opportunities to enhance Malaysia's long-term oil and gas supply.

The country is seeking to strengthen and diversify its energy supply amid growing global uncertainty and volatility in oil and gas markets, driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating energy prices.

Speaking before his departure, Anwar described the visit to Kazan as productive and successful, while expressing hope that his official visit to Turkmenistan would yield even greater outcomes.

-- BERNAMA