Bringing Capitals Together: Moscow Days in the Republic of the Philippines
From May 25 to 28, Moscow Days were held in the Republic of the Philippines. The business and cultural programme included the signing of new cooperation documents, a Business Forum, and performances by Russian and Filipino artists. The event was organized by the Department for External Economic and International Relations and the Moscow Centre for International Cooperation.
Moscow Days in Southeast Asia began in the capital, Manila, with the signing of a Cooperation Program between the Government of Moscow and the City of Manila. The document was signed by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, and Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Mayor of Manila. A Cooperation Program for 2026‑2028 was also signed in Cebu Province by the Minister of the Government of Moscow and Governor Pamela Silagan Baricuatro.
The documents cover a wide range of priority areas. The parties will exchange experience in waste management and sanitation, smart city development, the improvement of public transport (including electric transport), and the implementation of efficient traffic management systems. Special attention is given to the application of smart city technologies in healthcare and social protection, environmental protection, the development of e‑government services, and the safety of life‑support systems.
Active development will also be given to contacts in culture, the arts, and sports: museum and exhibition activities, theatre and concert work, librarianship, experience exchange in cultural heritage preservation, internships for cultural institution staff, as well as friendly matches between sports teams from Moscow and Cebu in various disciplines.
As part of Moscow Days, a Business Forum was also held, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Russian‑Philippine diplomatic relations. Discussions took place in Manila and Cebu Province. During the discussions, representatives of the public sector from Russia and the Philippines explored opportunities for cooperation and collaboration with the business sector. Experts raised issues of doing business in the Philippines, technology development, urbanization, and the innovation climate of cities.
One of the humanitarian programme highlights was chess tournaments and masterclasses featuring Russian grandmaster Ivan Popov and the top chess players of the Philippines. Young students from local chess schools demonstrated a level of skill that was worthy of the grandmaster.
A performance featuring Russian ballet dancers took place at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre. Soloists from Moscow theatres performed excerpts from ballets by Russian and foreign composers. The Filipino audience was impressed by the grace and professionalism of the Russian artists, confirming the highest level of the Russian ballet school.
Together with Filipino colleagues, the Moscow Government delegation honored the memory of renowned Russian writers – poet Alexander Pushkin at the University of Manila and writer Leo Tolstoy at the Sugbo Museum in Cebu Province – with wreath‑laying ceremonies. The monuments were erected in 2010 as a gesture of goodwill: sculptor Grigory Pototsky donated his works to the Filipino people.
The tradition of holding Moscow Days in various countries and cities around the world allows for the exchange of accumulated experience in economic and urban policy with foreign colleagues and the establishment of new contacts for further cooperation. The cultural component helps build dialogue on a new level, facilitating cultural exchanges and joint projects.