DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
9/10/2012
While the US pivot back to Asia early 2012 has stirred controversy over its militaristic tone, another major power has been pivoting positively. Russia is emerging with its own "look East" policy, purely on trade terms aiming to expand trade with the region by "about 50 percent" in the coming years. This target was expressed way back in Moscow in a speech on Aug. 27, Deputy First Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. The pivot East of Russia fulfills the vision of the double-headed eagle state emblem of Russia with one head facing West and the other head now clearing its vision of its view of Asia. Russia can indeed in the 21st Century, bridge the perspective for the entire World; filling in for the blind spots. Its pivot can be the fulcrum balancing West and East, supported by its economic clout with the globe's largest deposit of oil and gas now beginning to be tapped.
This year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum was opened in Vladivostok by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The international cable TV news carried the grand opening and parade of heads-of-states to the easternmost city of the only country in the world that covers 11 time zones. A look at the Atlas to behold the entire expanse of Russia shows a breathtaking panorama of territory, as impressive as the grand and impressive edifices built by Russia for the Apec meet. With its recent entry into the World Trade Organization, despite some misgivings today in the world about trade globalization, Russia signals its readiness to face the challenge of global economic competition while promoting its own economic interests and spreading its goodwill particularly with the nations of the East.
Russia's pivot East is palpable in the Philippines, as we witness greater Russian presence in local media, increased activities such as the visit of Russian artist early this year to its grand National Day celebration. We saw this in the special briefing in the Russian embassy arranged for some journalists on the occasion of the Apec summit in Vladivostock. One significant manifestation is the assignment of a Commercial Counselor at the embassy after years of absence. Although a permanent trade mission had been around for some time we hadn't met any trade counselor in the past years. We were introduced to Andrey Sapozhnikov who's been in Manila for six months now, and in our briefing we were read some statistics showing dramatic increases in trade with the Philippines in the past year; they're small compared to trade with traditional trading partners but a huge leap compared to Russia-Philippines trade the past decade. The deputy chief of Mission, Minister-Counselor Artem Kudoyarov also joined us in the briefing, engaging us in a very lively discussion of trade possibilities and the merits and demerits of Apec, compared to BRICS and the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership).
At the special briefing counselor Saposhnikov read an official document pertaining to Russia's policies and activities relating to Russia's chairmanship of the 2012 Apec, citing 100 events since Jan. 1, including ministerial sessions, meetings of senior officials, committees and task teams, seminar and conferences, 50 initiatives and blueprints proposed by the Russian government. All these, Sapozhnikov stated, "…encompassing four priority spheres — trade and investment liberalization and regional economic integration; strengthening food security; establishing reliable supply chains; intensive cooperation to foster innovative growth." We do not have space to list all but especially interesting is Russia's support for "joint efforts aimed at the formation of the single educational zone within Apec region," a very interesting program we should now more about.
Simultaneous with the 2012 Apec is a 2012 Youth Apec which was initiated by Russia Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev earlier. I found this out on the Internet. Its main goal is to show that young people are able to discuss serious problems and decisions and should be heard. The three days of discussions came up with the Apec Youth Leaders Declaration to be presented to leaders of Apec. The Youth meet depicts the ideal World of tomorrow, all nations around the Pacific rim working together towards economic prosperity and peace. At this writing the main Apec forum is on its last day and no final declaration has been issued but the messages during the summit is a good indication: from leaders such as Putin and Hu Jin Tao, admonitions about the perils of the protectionist temptations and calls for the calming of tensions in Asia. These are positive signals we welcome.
Russia and President Vladimir Putin has certainly pulled off an impressive show of leadership in Apec 2012. I rate this performance at par with China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics, in setting the stage for the respective nations' role for the 21st Century World. Russia is here to stay as a major economic and political power on the World stage, and the Philippines and Filipinos should take note and recognize the third major global power that will be among the major factors to enhance the progressive future of the region and the country — Russia, alongside China and the US.
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