South Korea and Cambodia discussed expanding economic ties and cooperation on official development assistance (ODA) programs, building on their free trade agreement (FTA). Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol in Seoul.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met and signed 19 agreements, focusing on AI, innovation, trade, and infrastructure. Key outcomes include an India-France Innovation Roadmap and expansion of UPI services, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Slovak MEP Judita Lassakova stated that EU sanctions against Russia will ultimately harm ordinary citizens in the bloc. Speaking to TASS at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, she criticized the "sweeping economic restrictions" and called for "common sense" in dealing with Russia, highlighting Slovak PM Robert Fico as a "sensible voice."
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated that the country's traditional reliance on the U.S. for defense is outdated. He emphasized a new approach focusing on self-reliant defense capabilities and expanding economic cooperation with the U.S., particularly in high-tech sectors, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that economic relations between Russia and the US are tense again due to the continuation and extension of US sanctions against Moscow, including new sanctions targeting Lukoil and Rosneft.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that economic relations between Russia and the United States have "become tense again."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that US sanctions, including those from the Trump administration, against Lukoil and Rosneft are straining economic relations between Russia and the US. He believes the US aims for global energy market dominance and is attempting to push Russia out of markets like Serbia and Venezuela.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund, spoke with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about joint economic projects and promoting peace with Ukraine. The US reportedly urges Ukraine to pursue peace.
A senior US official stated that the US desires a direct stake in Azerbaijan's energy infrastructure and pipeline projects, signaling a deepening economic and strategic partnership. The US aims to bolster Azerbaijan's role as a transit hub, particularly for the Middle Corridor trade route.
Russia and Saudi Arabia are deepening economic cooperation, highlighted by Saudi Arabia's guest of honor status at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The countries aim to increase trade from $3 billion to $10 billion, expanding partnerships in industry, technology, and investment, building on their collaboration within OPEC+.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that European countries and Russia need to restore trade and economic cooperation to the levels seen in the early 2000s. He emphasized the importance of pragmatic ties with Russia post-Ukraine conflict.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged the EU on June 4 to view China-EU economic and trade relations objectively, reject protectionism, and expand cooperation for mutual benefit. She stated that trade protectionism harms all parties and that European companies' continued investment in China is the strongest response to 'de-risking' narratives.
Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov stated that Moldovan authorities are heading towards a complete shutdown of economic relations with Moscow, citing the current leadership's pursuit of European integration over historical and economic ties.
Hundreds of business leaders and government officials from South Korea and 50 African nations attended a forum in Seoul to boost economic cooperation and industrial partnerships. The event, a sideline to the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting, focused on shared prosperity and joint growth, with discussions on supply chains and critical minerals.
Anatoly Bashkin, Director of the Africa Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that economic issues will be the main focus of the Russia-Africa forum, aiming to boost lagging trade and investment ties despite strong political and security relations.
A delegation from Guangdong, China, led by Wang Xi, visited the Argentine Chinese Assistance Center in Buenos Aires to discuss economic cooperation. Representatives from various overseas Chinese groups and businesses attended, aiming to strengthen ties between Guangdong and Argentina and promote Guangdong's products and investment opportunities.
Russia and China are strengthening their economic partnership, with bilateral trade exceeding $200 billion and financial transactions increasingly using rubles and yuan. Energy trade, infrastructure projects, and joint ventures in manufacturing and technology are key pillars of this expanding alliance.
French President Macron embarks on a tour of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kenya to bolster economic relations and counter the influence of the US, China, Russia, and Italy in the region.
Alexander Khozin noted that while the number of Russian companies operating in Bangladesh remains limited, their presence is noticeable and makes a significant contribution to the development of economic ties between the two countries
China’s top diplomat on the US-Mexico border denounced protectionism as a dead end at the weekend, delivering a pointed defence of open trade just weeks before Mexico, the United States and Canada sit down to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that governs North American commerce. Consul General Fu Xinrong told a business gathering in Tijuana that unilateralism benefits no one and called on nations to build economic ties based on sovereignty and mutual respect rather than...
China’s top diplomat on the US-Mexico border denounced protectionism as a dead end at the weekend, delivering a pointed defence of open trade just weeks before Mexico, the United States and Canada sit down to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that governs North American commerce. Consul General Fu Xinrong told a business gathering in Tijuana that unilateralism benefits no one and called on nations to build economic ties based on sovereignty and mutual respect rather than...
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives in Canberra for a three-day visit focusing on defence, critical minerals and economic security. The visit underscores deepening Japan-Australia ties amid regional security concerns, with Australia purchasing Japanese naval vessels in a multibillion-dollar deal. Japan's defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi noted the Asia-Pacific security environment is "increasingly severe" and announced expanded cooperation including joint exercises and potential co-production of defence equipment.
The Russia-ASEAN Business Forum will be held in Kazan from June 17 to 19, 2026, alongside the Russia-ASEAN Summit. The event, announced by Roscongress, will bring together ASEAN leaders, CEOs, foreign officials, and business representatives to discuss trade and economic cooperation, including EAEU-ASEAN partnership. This marks the first in-person Russia-ASEAN Summit since 2016 and coincides with the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations.
India and New Zealand have signed a comprehensive trade agreement in New Delhi that will cut or eliminate tariffs on 95% of New Zealand's exports to India while making all Indian exports to New Zealand duty-free. The deal, negotiated over nine months and agreed in December, includes a New Zealand commitment to invest US$20 billion in India over the next 15 years. The agreement comes as both nations seek to diversify export markets amid US tariffs and regional instability.
