Russian National Day 2024

EACH state in the world marks a particular day as the national holiday to celebrate its unique cultural features and glorious victories. In Russia, its people celebrate it on June 12, when the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia had been adopted in 1990.Although this is a relatively new holiday, Russia has a millennium-long history and rich traditions of statehood. Over the course of centuries it has accumulated knowledge and has achieved numerous results in science, technology and culture, which have become an integral and significant part of the world's heritage. Russians take pride in their motherland, which is not just the largest country in the world by territory, comprising 10 time zones, but also unites over 190 ethnic groups and followers of three world religions, existing peacefully side by side. Since the early 1990s, the young Russian democracy has aspired to join the international community on equal rights and work for the progressive development economically, politically and culturally. Governor of Cebu Province Gwendolyn Garcia (2nd from left) and Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission Sergey Glazyev (3rd from left) participate in the Eurasian Economic Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations business dialogue at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 6, 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Gracing the 31st session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila on Nov. 22, 2023 are Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations Maria Rachel Arenas (4th from left), House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (5th from left), First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Andrey Yatskin (4th from right), and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sholban Kara-ool (3rd from right). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The photo shows St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Undersecretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines Ceferino Rodolfo (left) and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Alexey Gruzdev sign the protocol of the 3rd meeting of the Russia-Philippines Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Manila on Oct. 5, 2023. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov, Philippine Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel 3rd (center), and President of the Universidad de Manila Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria (4th from right) attend the Pushkin Poetry Reading Event 2024 in Manila on June 6, 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO However, contrary to Russians' openness and eagerness to pursue full-scale cooperation, the Western partners have taken advantage of it to impose upon them the dangerous technological and financial dependence with the aim of converting Russia into a mere supplier of raw materials for the benefit of the United States and its allies.It has taken Russia almost a decade to realize the real intentions of those who claim to be its "friends." Thanks to its victorious spirit, and rich state and cultural traditions, Russia — as a state and a civilization — has made decisive steps toward real sovereignty. Together with it comes the understanding that Russia's true friends are in the Asia-Pacific region and other countries of the Global South with whom it shares traditional values and where the notion of the multipolar world is finding broad support.This year, Russia is celebrating National Day with confidence in its strength and of the rightfulness of its path. Russia's economy has proven its resilience despite all hardships, reaching 3.6-percent growth in 2023. It's on track in attaining technological sustainability. Its political situation remains stable, as it is reconfirmed at the presidential elections last March, resulting in a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin.Russia is not closing the door for honest cooperation with the West, but being a staunch advocate of a fair and multifaceted world, it is concentrating on building equal and fruitful collaboration with all like-minded countries of Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America. The demand for alternative models of development, free of hegemonic cravings of Pax Americana, spurs the increase in membership of organizations such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics), of which Russia is an active participant. It's noteworthy that in 2023, Brics has surpassed the Group of Seven elite club in terms of economy scale, comprising 35 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), as calculated by purchasing power parity. Nowadays, there are 10 members in this organization, but 30 more have expressed their interest to join within the coming years. It is expecting the first members to formally enter Brics at the leaders' summit in the ancient Russian city of Kazan this October. Russia has celebrated the 10th founding anniversary of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on May 29, 2024. The EAEU is formed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, which has achieved significant results, creating a common market with a GDP of $2.4 trillion. The EAEU stands in the center of the concept of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, aimed at facilitating an integrated economic space on the world's largest continent.June 2, 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of Russia-Philippines diplomatic relations, and Russia is proud to note that ever since the establishment of its relations with the Philippines — formalized during the historic visit of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics — both countries have been based on the principles of mutual interest, trust and respect.Russia is indeed striving to develop multifaceted collaboration with its Philippine partners, especially focusing on trade and economy. In order to foster bilateral commercial ties, several official and business missions have been conducted in the past months. Noticing the strong focus of president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration on attaining food security, the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia Federation launches a high-level delegation, composed of the largest producers of vital commodities and goods such as grain, flour, meat, animal vaccines and fertilizers in June 2023. About 200 meetings between representatives of the business circles have taken place as part of this mission, paving the way for a stronger collaboration in this critical area.Broader range of issues have been discussed during the third meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Manila in October 2023. It has identified a large number of prospective fields, including manufacturing, information technology and energy, among others. The business-to-business forum has gathered over 160 participants and has confirmed the huge mutual interest of the business communities of both countries. All these efforts have begun to bear fruit as trade volumes gradually return to pre-pandemic levels when they exceeded $1 billion.Russia attaches special attention to improving people-to-people connectivity in all its aspects, including tourism. There's a growing number of Russians arriving in the Philippines. Russia has managed to launch direct chartered flights to the Philippines, and it is striving to reopen regular air communication.These topics have been discussed during the visits of Philippine official delegations to the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2023 and to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024, where special sessions have been dedicated to the Philippine agenda. Intercity and interregional interaction has proven to be a promising field of bilateral relations. The cities of Moscow and Manila, Cebu and Vladivostok, and St. Petersburg and Cebu province are strengthening their ties and implementing practical programs of cooperation in areas such as urban transport and environment, business and commerce, health care, education and culture.Cooperation in the parliamentary dimension has also gained good momentum thanks to contacts in the framework of the Groups of Friendship, formed in the upper chambers of the two countries; the 31st session of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila last November; the visit of the Philippine delegates, including House members, to the World Youth Festival in Sochi; and the 148th Interparliamentary Union Assembly in Genève in February to March 2024.Russia continues to work in the conservation of its historical heritage. The Philippine delegation has taken part in the seventh session of the International Cultural Heritage Council in Moscow in December 2023, highlighting the unique experience of preserving and restoring cultural sites in disaster-prone areas. It has become a tradition to celebrate Alexander Pushkin Day on June 6 each year at his monument in Mehan Garden, Manila. This year's ceremony, held on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the great poet, has gathered admirers of Russian culture and has been particularly colorful.Pushkin has been known to say: "I can not accept many things in Russia, but I swear that nothing can make me change my motherland or to forsake the story of our ancestors." His patriotic position corresponds with the ideals of the Philippine national hero Josè Rizal. One of Russia's proposals is to organize exchanges of exhibitions devoted to these outstanding intellectuals.On its National Day, Russia sets new targets of national development in various spheres. This momentous occasion urges everyone to undertake active and responsible actions for the sake of creation of a fairer and safer world. It is confident that this goal can be reached by joining efforts with its good friends and reliable partners worldwide, including the Philippines, which Russia considers a significant partner.