By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
First established during the height of the Cold War in the former Soviet Union, the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the Russian Federation marched on as this year marks five decades that have eclipsed since its inception in 1976.
At the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Philippine delegation engaged in a bilateral talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday.
In the dialogue between the two leaders, President Putin began his speech by honoring the Southeast Asian nation’s chairship of ASEAN 2026, which coincided with the 35th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership.
The Russian leader addressed the Philippine delegation, “Apparently, we approach the present threshold with an immense capital of mutual beneficial cooperation, underpinned by good traditions of respect and respect for legitimate interests of each other.”
He also underscored the importance of the Joint Russia-Philippine Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, as well as other existing mechanisms that lean on the decades-long partnership between both nations.
For his part, President Marcos Jr. hailed the warm hospitality shown by the Russian government and its people to him and the Philippine delegation, which mirrors the principles of mutual respect earlier highlighted by Pres. Putin.
He went on to acknowledge the healthy diplomatic exchanges between Moscow and Manila, which may serve as a conduit for further political consultations and open doors for cooperation in other sectors such as trade, energy, and food security.
President Marcos Jr. told his Russian counterpart, “On the trade and investment relationship between our two countries, again, I would like to thank you for the hospitality and support that was extended to our delegation at the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was held in Moscow last September.”
Apart from enhancing the partnership with Moscow as a trading partner, he also expressed his interest in using this unique opportunity to re-evaluate the integrity of the PH-Russia ties, as well as explore avenues for further growth and development.
Speaking as the ASEAN Chair, the Chief Executive concluded his remarks by inviting Pres. Putin to attend the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila in November, noting the importance of the forum in ensuring prosperity and stability in the region.
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