President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, called for deeper cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Russia, identifying peace and security, economic engagement, and people-to-people exchanges as the three key priorities that should guide the partnership in the years ahead.
Speaking at the opening of the 35th Asean-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Marcos, as chairman of the regional bloc and co-chairman of the gathering alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the milestone anniversary offers an opportunity to build on decades of cooperation founded on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and peaceful engagement.
“As we mark this milestone, the Philippines would like to highlight three priorities that should animate our cooperation in the years ahead,” he said.
First, collaboration meant to strengthen peace, security, and stability amid growing geopolitical uncertainties must be intensified against transnational threats including terrorism, trafficking, cybercrime, and online scams.
The president also called for a more dynamic economic partnership between Asean and Russia, noting that existing trade and investment relations have yet to realize their full potential and urged both sides to pursue greater economic opportunities through improved trade facilitation, stronger investment flows, and closer business-to-business connections.
“We must be more deliberate and more ambitious in expanding economic opportunities improving trade facilitation, deepening investment flows, and connecting our business communities,” he said.
“Our economic cooperation must also be inclusive. Our micro, small, and medium enterprises must have a place in this partnership, and our cooperation must extend into the emerging sectors that will shape tomorrow's global economy,” he added.
Lastly, Marcos highlighted the role of scholarships, student exchanges, academic partnerships, tourism, and cultural exchanges in sustaining Asean-Russia relations beyond government initiatives.
“These are not peripheral to our relationship; they are at its living core,” he said.
“Thirty-five years is a foundation. What we build on it is our choice and our responsibility,” he added.
