Russia and the Philippines mark 48th anniversary of diplomatic relations
June 2, 2024June 2, 2024, marks 47 years since the day our country and the the Republic of the Philippines established diplomatic relations. It was on this day in 1976 that our two nations formalised their relations during the visit by President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos to Moscow.
Official Visit of The President of Philippines Ferdinand Marcos to the USSR in the course of which the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations was signed. June 1, 1976
However, the first diplomatic contacts between our countries date back to the beginning of the 19th century. Russia opened its Consulate General in Manila in 1820s as its first diplomatic mission in the Asia-Pacific Region. Russian ships regularly entered the archipelago’s ports, including those taking part in expeditions led by prominent explorers Vasily Golovin, Otto von Kotzebue, and Fyodor Litke.
Today, Russian-Philippine relations are confidently developing. The experience of cooperation accumulated throughout the years has shaped the friendly nature of bilateral ties based on mutual respect and pragmatism. This approach was confirmed by the leaders of Russia and the Philippines in their congratulatory messages, which they exchanged on the occasion of our national holidays in 2023.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Philippines Alan Peter Cayetano during a joint news conference in Moscow. May 15, 2018.
Dialogue is actively pursued at the governmental and interregional levels. Philippine official delegations visited the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, and the World Youth Festival in Sochi, among others.
Cooperation is being promoted in the parliamentary dimension as well — friendship associations have been established in the upper chambers of the legislative bodies of the two countries. The delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation took an active part in the work of the 31st session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila in November 2023.
Trade and economic cooperation remains an important component of bilateral relations. In June 2023, a delegation from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture visited the Philippines, during which more than 200 meetings between representatives of business circles were organized. In October 2023, on the sidelines of the meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Philippine Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, a business forum was held with over 160 participants.
Over the past few years, the annual trade turnover between our countries has remained at the level of USD 1 billion. Among the promising areas of bilateral cooperation are tourism, agriculture, transportation, energy, telecommunications, high technology. The main part of domestic exports is mineral products, metals and metal products, food products and agricultural raw materials.
Cultural exchanges between our countries flourish. Russian artists visit the Philippines, the leading theatres of the country employ representatives of the national ballet school, and their productions gather full halls. The Philippine cybersports team Neon Esports successfully participated in the Future Games in Kazan.
Russia and The Philippines are coordinating their actions on various international fora, including the UN.
Since 2013, the Philippines has been offering visa-free travel for Russian citizens for up to 30 days.
Our sincere and warm congratulations to our colleagues at the Department of Foreign Affairs, the people and government of the Philippines on our joint anniversary. We are confident that relations between our countries will continue to strengthen in the future!