Marcos meets Putin in Kazan; leaders discuss food security, energy cooperation

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kazan on Wednesday.

According to a report on "Saksi," the two leaders discussed stronger cooperation in food security and energy. The Philippines has been quite affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), compiled by GMA News Research, indicated that Russia is the world’s second-largest producer of natural gas after the United States.

It also has the largest gas reserves and stands as the top gas exporter globally.

Marcos and Putin's bilateral meeting was held in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia, established on June 2, 1976.

Marcos is in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a federal subject of Russia. He is to co-chair the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit along with Putin.

Marcos invited Putin to attend the ASEAN Summit in Manila in November.

During the summit, ASEAN and Russia will review the trajectory of their 35-year relationship and discuss strategies to strengthen cooperation in key areas, including energy and food security, trade, and investment.

Aside from the Philippines, the other members of the regional bloc are Indonesia, Malaysia​​​​​, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.

Marcos arrived in Russia on Tuesday morning and, upon landing, was offered a “Chak-Chak,” a traditional pastry, as part of the welcome honors for him.

In a recorded departure statement, Marcos said it would be his first time on Russian soil, 50 years after his father, then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., visited the former Soviet Union in 1976.

He said his father’s visit – which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Manila and Moscow – “opened an enduring chapter in Philippines-Russia relations grounded in mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation – one that we continue to build upon today.”

“As Chair of ASEAN, the Philippines is committed to ensuring that this Commemorative Summit produces substantive and forward-looking outcomes that deepen ASEAN’s Strategic Partnership with Russia and contribute, in concrete terms, to regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity,” the President said.

“Together with my fellow ASEAN Leaders and President Vladimir Putin, we will take stock of 35 years of ASEAN–Russia cooperation and help chart a course for the decades ahead,” he added.

He said discussions during the summit will fo