PHL and Russia ink 8 deals on energy and more

While many lauded the success of the recently concluded 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, what exactly happened behind the scenes? Here’s a look into the Russian side of things.

Some remember President Rodrigo Duterte’s newfound friendship with Russia officially kicking off on his official visit to Moscow last May 23. It continued when Putin met with Duterte at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Vietnam last November 11, right before the ASEAN Summit.

But where does our relationship with the Eastern giant stand now? If actions speak louder than words, and they often do, then the Russians were eager to deliver. After a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Duterte during the ASEAN Summit, both parties left with much to show for.

Apart from Duterte thanking Medvedev for 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles and military supplies Russia forked over in aid of counter-terrorism efforts, the two leaders signed eight (8) agreements:

• Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
• Treaty on Extradition
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Department of Energy and the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” of the Russian Federation (The Department of Science and Technology signed an agreement with Rosatom on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in May.)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Mass Communications
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Cooperation in Transport Education
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission on Higher Education of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation
• Agreement on Cooperation between the Commission on Audit of the Republic of the Philippines and the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation

Among the deals, the Rosatom one has raised the most eyebrows, earning mention of a possible reopening of the famed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

via CNN Philippines / Chad de Guzman