28 July 2005, Vientiane, Laos – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed plans for further boosting cooperation between ASEAN and Russia and the Philippines and Russia.  The two officials are currently in Laos for the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference.

“As incoming ASEAN country coordinator for Russia, it is my intention to mark our three decades of dialogue partnership with Russia by further strengthening relations, activities and cooperation between ASEAN and Russia,” the Secretary said.  ASEAN has dialogue partnerships with several countries and individual ASEAN ministers are tasked to coordinate relations with specific dialogue partners on a rotating basis. The Secretary said that he and Foreign Minister Lavrov also shared their views on commemorating 30 years of RP-Russia relations with projects and activities that will contribute to stronger and closer relations between the two countries.

“We agreed that our ASEAN-Russia partnership and our RP-Russia relations are important and that we should meet to discuss these matters further.  Minister Lavrov invited me to visit Russia in the near future so that we can discuss these matters in greater detailed.  I accepted his kind invitation and I am confident that we will be able to agree to specific actions and activities that will further boost ASEAN-Russia and RP-Russia relations” the Secretary said.

“Russia is an important country for both ASEAN and the Philippines.  Russia is an important potential alternative source of oil, a firm supporter of our interfaith initiatives and its increasingly vibrant economy makes it a prospective market for our goods and services.  Russian tourists are also increasing in number around the world and we hope to convince them to continue visiting the Philippines” Secretary Romulo said, noting that tourist arrivals to the Philippines from Russia have been steadily rising. END.