“Moscow Days in the Philippines” – A Gateway to Southeast Asia

From May 25 to 29, 2026, “Moscow Days in the Philippines” will take place in the cities of Manila and Cebu. The series of events will include the signing of new Cooperation Programs between the Russian capital and cities of the Republic, as well as a number of cultural events.

The Moscow Days program began with the signing of a Cooperation Program between the Government of Moscow and the City of Manila for the period 2026‑2028. The document covers priority areas of urban development: the improvement of transport systems, healthcare and social protection, environmental protection, waste management and sanitation, and the safety of life‑support systems. In addition, the program provides for expanding ties in science, business, trade, education, culture, tourism, and sports.

As part of the Business Forum, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Russian‑Philippine diplomatic relations, Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, will present to Philippine colleagues the investment potential of the capital and the projects the city is implementing to improve the quality of life of its residents. A photo exhibition dedicated to the history of relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Philippines, and between Moscow and Manila, will also be on display during the forum.

The humanitarian program will continue with a “Russian‑Philippine Chess Tournament,” bringing together Russia’s chess school and local Philippine schools. Twenty of the country’s top chess players will take part in a simultaneous exhibition match with Russian grandmaster Ivan Popov.

The next destination for the Moscow Government delegation will be Cebu. A Cooperation Program for 2026‑2028 is also planned to be signed between the cities. In August 2024, a Cooperation Program between the Government of Moscow and the City of Cebu for 2024‑2027 was already signed online.

It is worth noting that the interaction between Moscow and the Republic of the Philippines has an established and dynamically developing history. On January 30, 2023, the first Cooperation Program between the Government of Moscow and the City of Manila was signed for 2023‑2025. This document is historic, as Moscow became the first region in Russia to partner with the Philippine capital.