Russian Foreign Minister: Philippines is interested in a long-term energy cooperation with Russia

The Philippines is interested in developing cooperation with Russia, especially in the energy sphere, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov told reporters after the negotiations with his Philippine counterpart Blas Ople.

According to the Russian minister, Manila needs Russian oil and is interested in a long-term cooperation in this sphere.

Apart from that, said Igor Ivanov, at today's negotiations the sides stated that the present-day level of trade and economic relations between the two countries did not meet their potential possibilities. "The Philippine side expressed interest in setting up a bilateral commission" in order to increase trade between our countries and to expand investment cooperation, pointed out Igor Ivanov.

As official spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yakovenko said in a RIA Novosti interview, during his meetings with the Philippine leadership Igor Ivanov would discuss questions of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and the situation concerning Iraq.

It is also planned to analyse the situation in the Asia-Pacific region today, the state and prospects of ensuring security there, the ways of cooperation between Russia and the ASEAN member-countries and possible spheres for cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the ASEAN.

Apart from these issues, the sides are expected to discuss the whole range of bilateral relations, including contacts at different levels.

Special attention will be paid to filling the economic component of the relations with a concrete content and bring it to the level of a political dialogue.

Cooperation with the Philippines is an important component of Russia's policy in South East Asia and in the Asia-Pacific region. "The character and the content of Russian-Philippine relations are determined by the absence of any controversial problems and contradictions," pointed out Alexander Yakovenko. In the past few years, the Russian-Philippine political dialogue has intensified.