JDV’s proposal to include Russia in expanded ASEAN well-received

MOSCOW – Russian officials have welcomed Philippine House Speaker Jose de Venecia’s proposal for an expanded ASEAN Plus 4 grouping to include Russia, with its vast resource-rich regions in the Far East, as part of the process of economic and political integration of Asia.

De Venecia, on an official visit here as head of a parliamentary delegation, told the chairman of the Russian Parliament (Duma) Guennady Selezniev he will file a House resolution soon to formalize this proposal and campaign within ASEAN for its eventual acceptance.

"The process will take time, but today we have taken the first step in this process in the Russian Duma," De Venecia told Selezniev during their one-hour meeting at the Russian Duma.

Explaining his ASEAN Plus 4 proposal (China, Japan, Korea and Russia), De Venecia said Russia’s presence will potentially bring about geo-political "balances of power" in Asia with its major powers in China, Japan, Korea and India, and eventually contribute to regional and world peace and stability.

He said this proposal amends the original ASEAN Plus 3 vision that sought to integrate China, Japan and South Korea in the context of the eocnomic and political integration of Asia.

The meeting between the two leaders of parliament highlighted De Venecia’s three-day visit to this capital after earlier stops in Vladivostok, headquarters of the Russian Pacific Fleet, and in Khabarovsk to the north to explore possible diesel fuel importation by the Philippines and a joint venture in wood production.

The Speaker is accompanied by Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan Jr., Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar, and Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Their visit at the Duma’s invitation coincides with the 26th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and is seen to strengthen economic and political relations with Russia and its vast regions in the Far East.

The House leader reiterated his ASEAN Plus 4 proposal during meeting with other top Russian leaders, notably Deputy Prime MInister Valentina Ivanova, First Deputy Foreign Minister V. Loshinin, Abdoul-Vakhed Niyazov, the deputy chairman of the Committeeon Organization of State Duma Activities, and G. Petrov, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation.