1.

The Philippines robust and high economic growth, low inflation and ample
money supply provide good reason for the country to expand its relations
with Russia further, Pernia added.
2. Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev
emphasized that the political environment in his country has become much
more favorable, allowing it to enhance its bilateral relations with the
Philippines.
3. The areas of cooperation where he sees the two countries could strengthen
their ties are in politics, trade and investments, security and defense,
science and technology, education and culture, and tourism, energy,
transport infrastructure, among others.
4. In particullar, Khovaev said Russia has a wide array of oil and gas projects,
which account for 25 percent of its gross domestic product.
5. The energy sector of Russia is focused now on the Asia-Pacific region.
6. Another major sector is transportation infrastructure. Russia is a
transportation superpower, especially that we have a highly developed
network of railways. So Russian companies are ready to come into the
Philippines and be engaged in railways projects.
7. Khovaev also stressed that the economic and trade sanctions on Russia by
other developed economies have forced it to diversify its economy and find
new domestic drivers of growth, new economic partners in different regions
of the world.
8. Russian businesses are actively penetrating regional markets and in this
respect, we consider the Philippines as a major promising partner of Russia
in the Asia-Pacific region.
9. We are interested in building a long-term and reliable partnership between
Russia and the Philippines. The partnership will contribute to the
development of both our nations and also to regional peace, stability and
sustainable development.