The Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines is situated on a group of over 7,000 islands with a total area of 298,170 square kilometres and has a population of 104 million people.

The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the incumbent President is Benigno S. Aquino III.

In 2015, the country's GDP was valued at $291.9 billion, which is 5.8 percent more than the year before. Russia-Philippines trade reached $587.5 million in 2015.

Diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines were established on 2 June 1976. The countries maintain constructive cooperation on the international agenda at the UN and on regional venues such as ASEAN — Russia Dialogue Partnership, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ADMM-Plus, Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). Their foreign ministries maintain productive relations through a system of consultations, and their parliaments have been strengthening their ties.

Russia and the Philippines are working to strengthen their cooperation in trade, investment, research and technology, law enforcement, culture, tourism and other areas, including between various regions.

In November 2015, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Philippines held talks on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Manila and attended the signing of the intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of the Joint Russia-Philippines Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Interesting facts:

Established in 1899, the Republic of the Philippines was the first republic in Asia.

The Philippines has nine UNESCO heritage sites, including four baroque churches — San Agustin (Manila), La Asuncion (Santa Maria), San Agustin (Paoay) and Santo Tomas (Miag-ao), plus Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras (on the island of Luzon), the Historic Town of Vigan, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park on Palawan Island, and the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

A total of 26,000 Russian tourists visited the Philippines in 2015.