Marcos to meet with Putin at ASEAN-Russia Summit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Russia on Tuesday morning for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Russia Summit, where he is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report in “24 Oras”, Marcos was offered a “Chak-Chak,” a traditional pastry, as part of the welcome honors for him upon landing in Kazan.

Marcos is currently in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan to co-chair the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit along with Putin.

During the summit, ASEAN and Russia will review the trajectory of their 35-year relationship and discuss strategies to strengthen cooperation in key areas, including energy and food security, trade, and investment.

“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,” Marcos said in his departure remarks.

“The leaders will adopt the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action 2026-2030. They will also have a Kazan declaration, and there will be specific agreements on a joint declaration on energy cooperation, as well as a joint declaration on cultural cooperation,” said Igor Bailen, ambassador of the Philippines to Moscow, Russian Federation.

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Marcos and Putin are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss potential cooperation to strengthen food and energy security, especially as the Philippines feels the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) compiled by GMA News Research, Russia is the world’s second-largest producer of natural gas after the United States.

It also has the largest gas reserves and stands as the top gas exporter globally.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) could not confirm if the Russia-Ukraine war will be formally raised at the summit. The agency said no outcome document regarding the conflict will be released. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA News