MASIGASIG ang Maynila na makipag-partner sa Moscow pagdating sa vaccine procurement at manufacturing habang patuloy na nakikipaglaban ang global community sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“As the virus will be with us for many years to come, in one form or another, the Philippines is interested in cooperating with Russia in localizing vaccine manufacturing,” ayon kay Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso sa isang virtual conference para sa pagdiriwang ng ika-45 taong anibersaryo ng diplomatic relations ng Pilipinas at Russia.

“Vaccine cooperation with Russia is not only limited to the COVID-19. The Philippines and Russia could participate in joint cooperation projects for producing vaccines for other viral diseases in the future, especially when the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines is established,” ayon kay Buensuceso.

Ang kanilang space cooperation aniya ay panibagong lugar kung saan ang dalawang bansa ay maaaring mag-collaborate matapos na maestablisa ng bansa ang kanilang space agency.

Tiniyak ni Buensuceso na maaaring matuto ang Maynila mula sa advanced technological know-how ng Russia pagdating sa space exploration.

Ukol naman sa enerhiya, hinikayat nito ang Russian companies na magpartisipa sa Philippine oil at gas exploration and development sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

Sinabi ni Buensuceso, ang Maynila at Moscow ay maaaring magtulungan sa mapayapang paggamit ng nuclear energy.

“As the Philippines works to enhance its energy security, Russian investments and technology can greatly contribute to diversifying our energy resources,” aniya pa rin.

At habang ang Philippine-Russian bilateral ties ay lumalago ng makabuluhan sa paglipas ng mga taon, sinabi ni Buensuceso ang “enormous potential” para sa karagdagang kooperasyon sa pamamagitan ng umiiral na bilateral consultation mechanisms.

“Both nations must sustain the exchange of visits and exchanges between Philippine and Russian officials at all levels,” ani Buensuceso.

Samantala, ang modern diplomatic relations naman sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ay itinatag noong Hunyo 2, 1976.

“When the USSR was dissolved on Dec. 26, 1991, the responsibilities and obligations arising from bilateral agreements were assumed by the Russian Federation, which the Philippines formally recognized on Dec. 28, 1991,” ayon sa ulat. (CHRISTIAN DALE)