The United States and China found common ground at the ASEAN summit. What you need to know

At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which takes place from October 26 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur, the United States and China outlined the framework for a possible trade agreement. Also on the sidelines of the meeting, the Russian delegation discussed the development of economic relations with the countries of the region. How the first days of the main Asian summit went — in the Izvestia article.

What is expected from ASEAN this time

• At this year's ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, heads of countries and delegations are discussing the region's economic integration, as well as complex international topics, including the civil war in Myanmar, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the situation in Gaza, the rise of digital fraud, and the deepening standoff between the United States and China. The issue of instability in global trade, caused among other things by the US tariff policy, was also raised.

• Most attention is focused on possible negotiations between the United States and China. US President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur to begin his Asian tour, which will last about a week, with participation in the summit. The ASEAN summit is attended by the leaders of Japan, China, South Korea, Brazil, as well as South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For the first time since 1999, the organization has accepted a new, 11th member, East Timor.

The results of the negotiations between the United States and China

• At the summit, the delegations of the United States and China outlined the framework of a potential trade agreement, which the leaders of the two countries will discuss face-to-face on October 30. The document provides for a temporary suspension of stricter controls on the export of rare earth metals from China. Beijing described the talks as constructive, noting that the parties had reached a basic consensus and agreed to continue discussing specific details.

High detente: The United States and China are approaching a meeting at the leadership level

What are the chances of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing

• Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 100% (we discussed the recent escalation in relations between Washington and Beijing here). However, after the negotiations at the ASEAN summit, this increase is unlikely to take effect. Now China plans to resume the purchase of large quantities of soybeans from the United States, which previously almost completely stopped as part of the tariff war. The framework agreement reached is an important signal for global trade. On October 30, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to meet in South Korea.

• Relations between the two countries remain strained due to strategically important rare earth metals, which China owns about 90% of global production. Nevertheless, the possible suspension of tariff battles demonstrates progress in attempts to stabilize trade relations.

Relations between Russia and Asia

• At the ASEAN summit, the Russian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. In particular, during a meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Fadilla Yusuf, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister announced his readiness to propose solutions for the construction of nuclear power plants of various scales in the country, including modular installations. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties: in the first eight months of 2025, the trade turnover increased by more than a third, reaching almost $2.5 billion. In addition, Russia is considering the possibility of expanding exports of energy resources, medical and industrial equipment.

• South-East Asian countries are also showing increasing interest in using the Northern Sea Route. This route is the shortest link between Asia and Europe, which makes it attractive for trade and logistics. The volume of traffic in this area is steadily increasing, but further growth requires infrastructure development and increased transport capacity. Russia is ready to actively cooperate with partners from the region, especially in the field of transport and energy projects.

A double-edged sword: Trump praises China and prepares allies for possible conflict with it

The United States is softening its rhetoric towards China, but continues to conduct military exercises with Asian partners.

What is the essence of ASEAN

• The ASEAN Summits are a key mechanism for interaction between the countries of Southeast Asia and the whole world. They are aimed at strengthening political, economic and social cooperation. These meetings serve as a platform for coordinating the strategies of key global players.

• ASEAN summits traditionally discuss issues of economic development, trade, investment, digital transformation, energy, ecology and sustainable growth. In particular, special attention is being paid to ensuring food and energy security, strengthening infrastructure ties and increasing the competitiveness of the region. Joint approaches to overcoming global challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and geopolitical risks are also analyzed.

• In addition to economic aspects, the summits contribute to strengthening political dialogue and mutual trust between States, agreeing on steps to maintain peace and stability, developing mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes and forming a unified position of ASEAN in the international arena. They serve as a foreign policy coordination center where partnerships with other countries and organizations are built, prospects for regional security and integration are discussed, which strengthens the Association's role in the Asia-Pacific region.