Philippines
Metro Manila
Manila, Moscow ink 3-year pact on trade, tourism, and culture
Manila, Moscow ink 3-year pact on trade, tourism, and culture
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Monday, May 25, signed a new cooperation program with the Government of Moscow covering key sectors such as trade, tourism, culture, and education, marking the second agreement between the two capital cities since 2023.
The deal outlines collaboration in tourism, trade, culture, education, transport infrastructure, health, social protection, environmental protection, and public safety from 2026 to 2028.
Domagoso said the partnership is designed to bring tangible benefits to Manila residents by opening opportunities for learning, employment, and global engagement.
“Manila has always been a city that embraces the world. Through this partnership with Moscow, we celebrate the power of culture and the arts to unite nations and build lasting understanding across borders,” the mayor said.
“This cooperation program creates concrete pathways in tourism, culture, education, and trade that will directly benefit our residents—more opportunities to learn, to work, to grow, and to connect with the world,” he added.
The Manila mayor also invited Russian investors and visitors to explore opportunities in the Philippine capital.
“Please always come and invest in Manila. Visit our beautiful places, which are full of history and stories to tell. Come build something with us,” he said.
Domagoso highlighted Manila’s dynamic urban landscape, noting that the city hosts around two million residents at night and up to three million during the day.
“We are the city managing one of the most complex urban environments in Asia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sergei Cheryomin, Moscow’s Minister for External Economic and International Relations, said the partnership builds on the initial agreement signed in 2023, making Moscow the first Russian region to establish ties with Manila.
The new program expands cooperation through initiatives in education, transport data sharing, zoo collaboration, and cultural exchanges, including performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Cheryomin also invited Manila officials to attend the International Municipal Forum in Moscow this November, which is expected to gather over 100 countries and 500 municipal leaders.