Russia and the Philippines Pledge to Deepen Bilateral Relations

Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro held a telephone conversation on May 27.

During the talks, held ahead of the 50th anniversary of Russia-Philippines diplomatic relations, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties. The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines will be marked on June 2.

The two sides expressed their commitment to deepening constructive dialogue and practical cooperation between the countries. The upcoming milestone of five decades of diplomatic relations was viewed as an important opportunity to expand mutual engagement and identify new areas of cooperation.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2026. They exchanged views on prospects for expanding Russia’s strategic partnership with ASEAN.

The talks also covered preparations for the anniversary summit to be held in Kazan on June 17 and 18, marking the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations.

Russia has attached importance to its strategic partnership with ASEAN. The Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 is expected to create further opportunities to advance Russia-ASEAN cooperation.

The telephone conversation between Lavrov and Lazaro showed that Russia-Philippines relations are important not only at the bilateral level but also in the broader context of regional cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing diplomatic dialogue, practical cooperation and multilateral coordination.