Putin Urges ASEAN to Expand Trade in National Currencies at Kazan Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for increased trade between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) using national currencies, according to remarks made at the conclusion of the two-day Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan, Russia. The summit was attended by leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam, officials said. [1] Putin stated that Russia would continue supplying ASEAN countries with food and energy products and expand exports of higher value-added goods, including fertilizer and pharmaceuticals. He emphasized the importance of switching financial transactions from the dollar to national…