Russia, PH defense chiefs meet for the first time

From Update Philippines (May 3): Russia, PH defense chiefs meet for the first time

National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu met at the sidelines of VI Moscow Conference on International Security in Moscow April 26.

The meeting between two officials was first. Secretary Lorenzana first visited Russia in December 2016 as preliminary for President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Russia later this month.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs, the two officials welcomed the positive developments in the bilateral relations and agreed to further bolster cooperation in the defense and security sphere.

“It is only now that we are set to substantiate our relations especially in the area of defense” since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976, Secretary Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana also noted that the DND is ready to conclude a framework agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visits Moscow next month. The Philippines looks forward to enhanced security and defense engagement in terms of training, exchange of information and expertise, and port calls, among others.

“We are encouraged by the progressive development of Russian-Philippine relations in the defence field. The key event in this context was the meeting of Presidents of the two countriesat the APEC Summit in Lima last November”, Defense Minister Shoygu said.

http://www.update.ph/2017/05/russia-ph-defense-chiefs-meet-for-the-first-time/17128