SENATE PRESIDENT DRILON, ACTING CHAIR OF RUSSIAN STATE DUMA HIGHLIGHT CRUCIAL AREAS OF COOPERATION

21 October 2015, Moscow - Senate President Franklin M. Drilon met and held talks today with Mr. Nikolay V. Levichev, the Acting Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia, where both officials highlighted crucial areas for cooperation between the Philippines and Russia.

The Senate President also expressed the hope that ASEAN-Russia cooperation will expand. It was in this context that he congratulated Mr. Naryshkin for establishing in 2013 the Russian Duma's parliamentary group responsible for developing ties with the legislative branch of the Philippines and other ASEAN countries.

With the observance next year of 40 tears of formal diplomatic relations, the Senate President said that he looks forward to more trade and investments between the Philippines and Russia.

"Bilateral trade has been growing consistently in the past years, although the present level of trade turnover does not yet reflect the full potential of our economic relations. The good news is that we now notice an even stronger interest from our respective business communities to engage each other," the Senate President told Mr. Naryshkin. He added that the new Air Services Agreement will lead to higher tourism traffic.

Citing the strong macro-economic fundamentals that is making the Philippines a very attractive investment destination, Senate President Drilon said that now is the perfect time for Russian businesses to bolster their presence in the Philippines.

"Philippine companies are raring to expand their reach to include non-traditional markets such as Russia. This move to gain a foothold in the Russian market is well-timed in view of the ongoing Eurasian economic integration process - with Russia as the main motor," he added.

With a view to greater economic ties, he said the Philippines "is looking forward to the upcoming meeting between President Benigno S. Aquino III and President Vladimir Putin at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Manila this November."

The Senate President also said that the Philippines is also interested in signing a number of pending agreements from consular protection, to humanitarian cooperation, to trade and investment enhancement, to fighting transnational crimes, including terrorism, to defense and security cooperation, among others.

"On top of these, we are keen on intensifying people-to-people exchanges in the fields of education, culture and the arts, and tourism, among others and between or youth. We need to strengthen our linkages at the people-to-people level if we are to succeed in building a strong, dynamic, and multi-faceted relationship responsive to the needs of the 21st century," Senate President Drilon told the Chair of the State Duma.

The State Duma is the Lower House of the Federal Assembly of Russia. Its members are referred to as Deputies.

The Senate President is in Russia on the invitation of Mme. Valentina I. Matvienko, Chairperson of the Federal Council, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. While in Russia, Senate President Drilon met several top Russian officials, signed a parliamentary cooperation agreement and addressed the Plenary Session of the Federal Council.

(This Press Release is from the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, Russia)