Stronger PH-Russia ties...

(3:30 a.m., May 23, Philippine time) at the Vnukovo-2 Airport to launch his four-day official visit here.

Duterte, who is accompanied by Filipino business leaders and several members of Congress, will hold high- level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, both of whom extended personal invitations for the Moscow visit to the Filipino Chief Executive during separate occasions last year.

The President said his administration will give Philippines-Russia relations great importance, commensurate to its full potential while pushing for pragmatic engagement in the sphere of political, security, economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges in his meeting with Putin and Medvedev. The meetings with Putin and Medvedev are expected to take place May 25 and May 26.

He said he will also take this opportunity to encourage business leaders to partner with their Filipino counterparts.

“The Philippines means serious business,” he said.

He added that he will also show to the Russian youth that “we seek nothing but friendship” based on mutual respect.

He said his official visit will lay firm foundation for a robust, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial PhilippineRussia partnership with shared aspiration for sovereignty, equality, and pragmatism.

“There is room for growth, there is room for positive change,” he said.

Issues in talks The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the talks will be substantive and are expected to include the signing of bilateral agreements relating to defense cooperation, military and technical cooperation, mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, peaceful use of nuclear energy, culture, trade and investment.

The four-day Moscow visit takes place as US President Donald Trump is battling criticisms over controversies involving alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US polls.

President Trump has invited Duterte to visit the US in November. The Philippine President has yet to decide on the invitation.

While in Moscow, Duterte will deliver a policy speech at the MGIMO University or the Moscow State Institute of International Relations which will also confer him an honorary doctorate degree tomorrow (Wednesday).

The visiting Philippine executive is expected to reiterate his administration’s commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy that in the words of DFA Assistant Secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad “is anchored foremost on national interest considerations.”

Prior to the MGIMO event, Duterte will attend official activities at the House of the Government of the Russian Federation and will lead a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Aleksandrovsky Sad.

Duterte’s busy schedule Wednesday will be capped with a dialogue with the Philippine-Russian Federation CEO Roundtable at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The Filipino community will also have its chance for a dialogue with the visiting President on Thursday.

Originally scheduled at the Four Seasons Hotel, the venue could be moved due to the huge number of Russia-based Filipinos seeking attendance at the dialogue.

There are only around 5,000 Filipinos based in Russia and 75 percent of them have been identified as strong supporters of the visiting Chief Executive, as gathered from the results of the 2016 absentee voting.

Also included in the tight working visit schedule are meetings with the Philippine-Russia Business Forum and a one-on-one interview with Russian television, both on Thursday.

The schedule for the planned trip to St. Petersburg has yet to be released.

Earlier, Philippine foreign affairs officials aired the optimism that the Duterte’s visit would solidify PhilippineRussia diplomatic relations.

“It will be the first visit of the President to Russia and we believe it will mark a new chapter in PhilippineRussia relations. We also see this visit as an indication of our strong common desire to enhance and strengthen bilateral relations,” said Natividad.

Defense modernization Russia is expected to play a role in the Philippines’ defense modernization program.

“An independent foreign policy does not mean it will diminish our partnership, our relations with our traditional partners. We are seeking to enrich our partnership with counties that share mutual interest with us and with whom we can pursue our national interest,” said Natividad, who heads DFA’s Office of European Affairs.

“There is really nothing that would stop Russia from participating in the military modernization program of the Philippines,” she pointed out.

Until Duterte’s ascent to power, the United States had usually been the preferred choice of the Philippines as the two countries are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty and related agreements.

Natividad explained that it is well known that the Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana “has been looking for partnerships” where the Philippines can get the best deals (and), the most compatible to the needs of our military force.

“As you are aware, Russian warships have already visited the Philippines twice this year so it is more into that aspect of becoming more familiar with each other’s competence. There is no discussion at the moment in terms of joint exercises or visiting forces,” Natividad stated.

Duterte is not the only Filipino President to set foot on Russian soil. It was recalled that former President Fidel V. Ramos and former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had attended international meetings in Russia.

Natividad described Duterte’s program in Russia as “substantive.”