Ankara: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila later this year. Marcos extended the invitation during a bilateral meeting with Putin in the Russian southwestern city of Kazan late Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the invitation was confirmed by a statement from the Filipino president's office. As the current chair of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marcos is in Kazan, where Putin will host the bloc's leaders for a commemorative summit marking 35 years of diplomatic ties between ASEAN and Russia.

During the meeting, Marcos emphasized the significance of the East Asia Summit, stating that it 'remains an integral part in maintaining a regional architecture towards our shared goal of a stable, secure, and prosperous region.'

In a related development, Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov highlighted at the ASEAN-Russia business forum that trade between Russia and ASEAN has increased by 58% over the past decade, reaching $21 billion.

On the bilateral level, Marcos expressed a desire for 'more robust trade and economic cooperation' with Russia, highlighting the potential for collaboration in energy and food security sectors. He recalled meetings of the joint commission on trade and economic cooperation, noting that energy and food security 'emerged as a mutual priority of both countries.'

The Philippines, facing an energy deficit, declared an economic emergency following disruptions in global oil supplies due to the US-Israeli war with Iran. Consequently, it was the first nation to purchase crude from Russia in March under a US waiver on Russian sanctions.

This year marks 50 years of bilateral ties between the Philippines and Russia, initiated by a historic visit from Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the current president's father, to the then-Soviet Union in 1976, which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations.