27 May 2014 – The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the Philippine delegation for the 9th Philippines-Russia Political Consultations held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mansion in Moscow on May 22.
Leading the Philippine delegation was Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Evan P. Garcia. He was accompanied by the Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation Alejandro B. Mosquera, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara-Collinson, Foreign Service Institute Director Carlos D. Sorreta, First Secretary Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr., Special Assistant Myca Magnolia M. Fischer, Director for Russia and Eastern Europe Conrado B. Demdem, Jr., Third Secretary Luningning G. Camoying, and Third Secretary Jeffrey Angelo Valdez.
Undersecretary Garcia underscored the importance of the two countries’ bilateral exchanges in key areas of cooperation, particularly trade and investments, tourism, air services, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges. He also highlighted the Philippines’ and Russia’s constructive engagement in regional and multilateral fora, especially in the East Asian Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and Asia-Europe Meeting.
Deputy Minister Igor Morgulov, head of the Russian delegation, affirmed the importance of the Philippines as a bilateral partner in ASEAN and the larger Asia-Pacific region. He expressed optimism over the growing economic relations and people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Russia.
The regular political dialogue provides a mechanism to review the status and take stock of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation between Russia and the Philippines. The previous Philippines-Russia Political Consultations was held in Manila in December of 2012.
After the consultations, Undersecretary Garcia and delegation visited the ASEAN Centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) where they were received by Dr. Victor Sumsky, Director of the ASEAN Centre, and officials of MGIMO.
Earlier, Director Carlos D. Sorreta of the Philippine Foreign Service Institute delivered a lecture on “Security Developments in the Asia Pacific region” to a group of graduate students and professors from the MGIMO University, Moscow State University, and other academic institutions in Moscow. END
