Marcos departs for ASEAN-Russia summit in Kazan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday night left Manila for Kazan, Russia to participate in the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit, where he is also expected to discuss food and energy security and other issues during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos and his delegation departed at 11:55 p.m.

In a recorded departure statement, Marcos said it is his first time on Russian soil – 50 years after his father, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., visited the then-Soviet Union in 1976.

He said his father’s visit – which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Manila and Moscow – “opened an enduring chapter in Philippines-Russia relations grounded in mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation – one that we continue to build upon today.”

“As Chair of ASEAN, the Philippines is committed to ensuring that this Commemorative Summit produces substantive and forward-looking outcomes that deepen ASEAN’s Strategic Partnership with Russia and contribute, in concrete terms, to regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity,” the President said.

“Together with my fellow ASEAN Leaders and President Vladimir Putin, we will take stock of 35 years of ASEAN–Russia cooperation and help chart a course for the decades ahead,” he added.

He said discussions during the summit will focus on cooperation in peace and security, trade and investment, food and energy security, science and technology, digital transformation, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Marcos said he will also hold a bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia summit.

Manila and Moscow marked 50 years of diplomatic ties which were established on June 2, 1976.

“Our discussions will focus on concrete areas of mutual interest, particularly energy and food security. Guided by our ASEAN Chairship theme, Navigating Our Future Together, the Philippines will continue to champion ASEAN unity, centrality, and solidarity and promote an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture anchored in international law,” the President said.

He noted that their bilateral ties have deepened across trade, education, culture, agriculture, energy, science, etc.

“We look forward to building on these foundations and opening new avenues of cooperation for the future,” Marcos said, adding: “We travel to Kazan with purpose, and we return with renewed commitment to our partnership.” — JMA, GMA News