NEW PHILIPPINE-RUSSIA PARLIAMENTARY AGREEMENT TO BOOST COOPERATION -- DRILON

20 October 2015, Moscow - An agreement that will strengthen ties and boost cooperation between the upper houses of legislatures of the Philippines and Russia was signed today by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Mme. Valentina I. Matvienko, Chairperson of the Federation Council, Federal Assembly of Russia.

The agreement was signed shortly after the two legislators and their respective delegations held a dialogue at the Federal Council Building.

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference at the Federal Council after the signing, the Senate President said "Recognizing the important role that we in the legislative branch can play in advancing relations between our two countries, we concluded a cooperation agreement that will serve as a framework for the continued interaction between the Philippine Senate and Council of Federation in both bilateral and multilateral fora."

"With this solid bond between the legislative branches of our two countries and the upcoming historic meeting between our Leaders in Manila at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in November this year, Philippines-Russia relations are indeed poised to soar to new heights," Senate President Drilon said.

The Senate President also told reporters that he had come to Moscow "to reaffirm my Government's commitment to deepen relations with the Russian Federation. With the positive outcome of my meeting with Mme. Matvienko today, I will go back home to the Philippines in a few days confident that I have achieved my goal."

The document signed today by the two parliamentary leaders is titled "Agreement on Cooperation Between the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Senate of the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines." This new agreement supersedes the one signed on 20 October 2008.

The key features of this new agreement are:

•  The promotion of inter-parliamentary cooperation through visits, dialogue and consultation with a view to further improving bilateral relations.

•  Exchanges of information on legislative activities, law enforcement practices, parliamentary procedures and official publications and other documents of mutual interest.

•  Cooperation and broadening of ties between regions and municipal entities of the two countries.

•  Cooperation in international parliamentary organizations to promote peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the whole world.

The Senate President is in Russia on the invitation of Mme. Valentina I. Matvienko, Chairperson of the Federal Council, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

While in Russia, Senate President Drilon is slated to meet several top Russian officials as well as speak before the Plenary Session of the Federal Council