Marcos meets Putin in Kazan; leaders discuss food security, energy cooperation

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kazan on Wednesday.

According to a report on "Saksi," the two leaders discussed stronger cooperation in food security and energy. The Philippines has been quite affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), compiled by GMA News Research, indicated that 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.

Marcos and Putin's bilateral meeting was held in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia, established on June 2, 1976.

Marcos is in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a federal subject of Russia. He is to co-chair the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit along with Putin.

Marcos invited Putin to attend the ASEAN Summit in Manila in November.

The Philippines is this year's chair of ASEAN.

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.

Aside from the Philippines, the other members of the regional bloc are Indonesia, Malaysia​​​​​, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.

Chak-chak

Marcos arrived in Russia on Tuesday morning and, upon landing, was offered a “Chak-Chak,” a traditional pastry, as part of the welcome honors for him.

He left Manila on Tuesday night for Kazan.

In a recorded departure statement, Marcos said it would be his first time on Russian soil, 50 years after his father, then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., visited the former 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.

“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.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino would serve as the country’s caretakers while Marcos is in Russia. –NB, GMA News