Russia, Philippines developing economic partnership despite Western sanctions - Russian diplomat
MOSCOW. June 1 (Interfax) - Russia and the Philippines share similar positions on most items of the regional and international agendas and develop economic partnership despite sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko said.
"In a complicated geopolitical environment, we maintain a constructive dialogue with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. We note the close cooperation between the two countries' diplomatic agencies. In the international arena, Moscow and Manila assume generally similar positions on many pressing regional and global issues," Borisenko said at the opening of an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines.
The economic dimension of the Russia-Philippines partnership is "developing despite Western sanctions pressure," and "the joint Russian-Filipino commission on trade and economic cooperation is working productively," he said.
"There is enough capacity for expanding cooperation in energy, including peaceful nuclear energy, agriculture, transport infrastructure, and information and communications technology. Russian oil deliveries to the archipelago have resumed," Borisenko said.
"Our cultural and humanitarian dialogue is also quite intense," he said.
Moscow and Manila also cooperate through the Russia-ASEAN dialogue, he said.
Filipino Ambassador to Russia Igor Garlit Bailen highlighted cooperation between Russia and the Philippines, including within the framework of Russia's partnership with ASEAN, and noted the development of tourist ties between the two countries. In particular, Russia's S7 Airlines is preparing to launch direct flights to Manila from Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, and Vladivostok, he said.
"The Filipinos have always been proud of our friendship," Bailen said.
An exhibition dealing with relations between Russia and the Philippines, which opened at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Monday, features documents and photographs related to contacts between the two countries.
