Russia, Asean forge new partnership

But despite being welcomed as a regular summit partner by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Russia faced an uphill battle in its stated desire to play a more influential role in wider Asia-Pacific affairs.

President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur a day after making a lightning dash to the war-torn Russian province of Chechnya, held inaugural summit talks with his Asean counterparts for around 90 minutes.

That meeting was capped by the signing of a joint 27-point declaration of "comprehensive partnership" between Russia and Asean along with a detailed action plan that officials described as a "road map" for the next 10 years.