Упрощенная HTML-версия
http://interaffairs.ru
Author : Erlinda F. Basilio
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines
ON JUNE 2, 2011, the Philippines and Russia mark
the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplo-
matic relations, a milestone in the partnership be-
tween a dynamic developing country and a major
global player entering an era of modernization.
The Philippines forged formal diplomatic ties with
the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR) in 1976. With the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991, the Russian Federation assumed all
the responsibilities and obligations arising from bilateral agreements signed with the Philippines.
CONTACT AND INTERACTION between the Philippines and Russia in the past have been
chronicled diligently in Russia.
Russians nowadays are aware that 6,000 "White" Russian refugees lived in the Philippines from
1949-1951 after escaping communist China. These so-called "White" Russians were supporters
of Tsar Nicholas II and had escaped the 1917 Revolution and settled in China, particularly Shang-
hai.
When no country in the world dared welcome the White Russians for fear of reprisal from the
USSR, it was only the Philippines that provided them sanctuary.
With the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 2, 1976, Philippines-Soviet relations em-
barked on a path of nurturing, albeit slowly, a broadening, deepening and mutually beneficial
partnership. As such, both countries have made tangible strides over the past three and a half
decades, especially in the areas of defense and security,TRADE andINVESTMENT , tourism,
culture, and labor migration.
BEFORE US lies the vital next step of realizing the potential for enhanced cooperation in the
areas of trade and investment, defense, energy, tourism, culture, education, and science and tech-
nology.
We hope that with Russia's entry into the East Asia Summit (EAS) in 2011, there will be emphasis
on key issues such as the strengthening of regional security, security energy and cooperation, in-
novation and modernization, climate change, and disaster management and mitigation.
Our desire to harness our partnership is resolute, as our partnership is built on friendship and
the promotion of our shared interests. The foundation has been laid for the Philippines and the
Russian Federation to build on the gains of the first 35 years of formal relations. Together, we
can look forward to taking our bilateral cooperation to new heights in the next 35 years and be-
yond.
The Way Forward in a Profound Era of Change