PH Reiterates Support for Russia’s Economic Focus on Asia

Ambassador Sorreta chatting with Mr. Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Development and Support Foundation of the Valdai Club (left photo) and with Mr. Alexander Krutikov, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East, after the discussion session titled "Turning Russia to the East: The Next Decade," which was held on 14 December 2017 in Moscow and organized by the Valdai Club. (Photos by S. Pamacol)

22 December 2017 MOSCOW — Philippine Ambassador to Russia, Carlos D. Sorreta, reiterated Philippine support for Russia’s policy of strengthening economic relations with countries from Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, when he met with key Russian economic leaders on the sidelines of a discussion session organized by the Valdai Club in Moscow on December 14.

“The Philippines not only welcomes Russia’s focus on our region but also stands ready to engage Russia to deepen our economic and commercial ties,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

The discussion session of the Valdai Club on Russia’s focus on Asia was titled "Turning Russia to the East: The Next Decade," and was held as part of the Days of the Far East in Moscow.

The experts on the panel were one is saying that Russia’s turn to the East has been succeeding as evidenced by the significant growth in the volume of trade, and economic and political ties with the countries of Asia, according to Ambassador Sorreta. “This is a very welcome development for the Philippines and we are working vigorously to deepen our own ties with Russia,” he added.

“One important point on which there was agreement during the discussion was that Russia’s turn to the East is not a temporary measure adopted in the face of economic sanctions from the West, but a deliberate and long term strategy,” Ambassador Sorreta said.

The moderator for the discussion session was Mr. Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Development and Support Foundation of the Valdai Club. Among the panelists were Mr. Sergei Karaganov, Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the Higher School of Economics, Mr. Timofei Bordachev, Program Director of the Valdai Club, and Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, Mr. Alexander Krutikov, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East, Mr. Yegor Borisov, head of the Yakutia region, Indian Ambassador Pankaj Saran, Singaporean Ambassador Lim Kheng Hua and Mr. Apurva Sanghi, the World Bank's Lead Economist for Russia.

The Valdai Discussion Club aims to promote dialogue among Russian and international experts and to deliver independent objective scholarly analysis of political, economic, and social developments in Russia and the world.  It was established in 2004 and is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place. END

For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph.