29 October 2015 – The prestigious Institute of Economic Strategies, an expert organization under the Russian Academy of Sciences, is set to publish in November an in-depth interview with Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta as part of its 7th issue for 2015.
The interview focuses on the Philippines’ use of public diplomacy in its foreign policy as well as areas of congruence between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) consisting of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. It was arranged in cooperation with the Center for Eurasian Cooperation and Development and the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.
Ambassador Sorreta shared his views on a wide range of issues such as the use of social media in public diplomacy, the importance of information and understanding and the role of various sectors in regional integration. In discussing the role of the youth in ASEAN public life, Ambassador Sorreta was quoted: “ASEAN collectively has a very young population. This means that the youth are in a better position to shape public discourse because their voices matter both demographically and politically. Their influence is not only recognized by political organizations but by businesses as well. And with the constant creation of new technology and cultural content, young people will only continue to play bigger and bigger roles in society because they adapt to these new things faster than the rest of us.”
On the concept of a single information space for regional groupings, he said: “As we integrate further, our people must recognize that what goes on in other parts of the region affects them. That is the whole point of regional integration – shared experiences that lead to shared identities.”
For the full transcript of the interview as well as the English translation, please visit the Embassy’s official website at moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph. END
