By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In a video message uploaded on social media late Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. outlined the significance of his visit to Russia as he is set to participate in the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.
This, as the President hailed the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations vis-à-vis the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Manila and Moscow.
He expressed optimism about the upcoming Summit, “As Chair of ASEAN, the Philippines is committed to ensuring that this Commemorative Summit produces substantive and forward-looking outcomes that deepen ASEAN’s Strategic Partnership with Russia and contribute, in concrete terms, to regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity.”
Among the key priorities that will be discussed in high-level talks with other ASEAN leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin include food and energy security, digital transformation, tourism, peace and security, trade and investment, science and technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
President Marcos Jr. is likewise expected to engage with Pres. Putin through a bilateral dialogue at the sidelines of the Summit late Wednesday.
The Chief Executive and his delegation left the Philippines for Kazan, Russia shortly after 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, and expected to arrive in Russia at 1:00 p.m. [Philippine time].
2026 marks the golden anniversary of the Philippines-Russia diplomatic relations, or 50 years since former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. made his historic visit to the then-Soviet Union in 1976.
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