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2 Russian navy ships dock in Manila

Xinhua, January 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

A Russian anti-submarine destroyer and a replenishment vessel have docked in Manila for a goodwill visit, the Philippine military said on Tuesday.

The anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Tributs and the large sea tanker Boris Butoma moored to a pier in Manila Monday night, according to the military.

The visit of the two Russian navy ships is the first during the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who is forging a strong diplomatic alliance with Russia.

Philippine military officials played down the presence of the Russian vessels, saying it is not at all out of the ordinary.

Philippine navy officials were on hand to welcome the Russian ships during a ceremony Tuesday morning.

"A customary meeting procedure was conducted followed by a welcome ceremony," said Navy Capt. Lued Lincuna, a spokesman for the Philippine navy.

He said there are activities lined up for the Russian soldiers during their six-day visit.

"There will be courtesy calls, tour of historical places within Manila and nearby Cavite province, capability demonstration, goodwill games, wreath laying, shipboard tour and send-off ceremony among others," Lincuna said.

The Russian delegate is headed by Rear Adm. Eduard Mikhailov, the deputy commander of the Flotilla of Russian Navy Pacific Fleet.

The visit of the Russian anti-sub destroyer and tanker comes barely a month after Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana visited Russia to explore prospects for military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit last month, Lorenzena met with his Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov. The two agreed to convene a working group to flesh out activities for both the defense and armed forces establishments, the defense department said.

They have also committed to finalize the proposed Philippines-Russia Agreement on Defense Cooperation so it can be signed when Duterte visits Russia in April this year.

The visiting Russian ships are expected to leave on Jan. 7.

In May last year, a Russian hydrographic vessel Marshal Gelovani also docked in the Philippines reportedly for "resupply, replenish and crew rest." There was reportedly no navy-to-navy interaction during that visit. Enditem