On 6 October, MGIMO hosted Philippines Day to mark the 50th… — MGIMO International — TG.ME

The event was organised by the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO and the Russian and Philippine embassies. It brought together diplomats from both countries, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academics, business leaders and MGIMO students.

Discussions explored the history of bilateral relations and prospects for closer political, economic, educational and cultural cooperation. Participants emphasised the importance of people-to-people ties, particularly academic exchanges and the education of specialists with a thorough understanding of both countries’ history, culture and contemporary affairs.

He described the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976 as a turning point in Philippine foreign policy, reflecting a commitment to pragmatic cooperation and respect for each other’s national interests.
A central theme of his address was the importance of educating a new generation of Filipino specialists on Russia. Ambassador Bailen stressed that Russia’s growing interest in Southeast Asia should be matched by research on Russia in ASEAN countries. He identified MGIMO as one of the institutions nurturing a new generation of such specialists. Among those attending were MGIMO’s first students from the Philippines: two master’s students on the ASEAN Centre’s programme and a first-year undergraduate at MGIMO’s School of International Relations.
The Ambassador concluded by emphasising the value of intellectual inquiry and reminding the audience that the ultimate purpose of education is to serve society.

He described the meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Kazan as the defining political event of the anniversary year. He highlighted priority areas for bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, tourism, healthcare and education, with particular emphasis on university partnerships, student exchanges and mutual interest in each other’s languages and cultures.
Ambassador Pavlov also welcomed the enrolment of the first two Filipino students in MGIMO’s Russia–ASEAN master’s programme in 2026. He suggested that the Tagalog concept of bayanihan—a spirit of communal cooperation and mutual support—captured the essence of relations between the two countries.

The programme included a session on Russia–Philippines relations in a multipolar world, a session on sustainable economic cooperation and a roundtable entitled “Philippine Literature through the Lens of Russian Translation”.