The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that food and energy security will be the central topics expected to be discussed during the upcoming bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit later this week.

According to the DFA spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial, the meeting will tackle the impact of global issues on food and energy supply, with both areas seen as mutually important concerns for the Philippines and Russia.

“The meeting will most likely focus on food security and energy security. That is mutually important for both countries, for the Philippines and Russia,” he said in a pre-departure press briefing in Malacañan on Monday, June 15.

Marcos is set to travel to Kazan in the Russian Federation on June 17–18 to co-chair the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, which marks the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations between the regional bloc and Moscow.

The summit will bring together leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Russia to review progress in their strategic partnership and outline future cooperation, according to the DFA.

Imperial said the bilateral meeting between Marcos and Putin is expected to primarily focus on food and energy security, which he described as key shared priorities.

He also said the two leaders are likely to discuss regional and international developments, as well as opportunities to expand cooperation in tourism, education, culture, science and technology, and broader people-to-people exchanges.

As ASEAN Chair, Marcos will co-chair the summit alongside Putin.