How times have changed.

Today we stand boldly on the frontiers of a greater regional community – the East Asia Community. Differences imposed by a bipolar world remain, but only as fading memories of a sad and bitter time.

With the first ASEAN-Russia Summit, we embark on a new chapter in the history of our region – a region where Russia has a profound physical presence – through the Russian Far East, Sakhalin, and Vladivostok.

The signing of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Declaration on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership and its Comprehensive Programme of Action by the Leaders of ASEAN and Russia after the ASEAN-Russia Summit this Tuesday, will usher in a new chapter in ASEAN’s relations with Russia by giving these relations added emphasis and direction.

Old threats are gone and fear no longer dominates our actions. New threats have emerged, but now hope and goodwill motivate our relations.

We have seen the determination and resolve of the Russian people in fighting terror. Just over a year ago in Beslan, we stood by them and condemned the slaughter of their children.

We have witnessed the key role that Russia is playing in preventing nuclear proliferation. They are proving the key to resolving the Iran nuclear issue. They are active partners in the Six-Party Talks on the Korean peninsula. They have set aside old differences and joined the Proliferation Security Initiative.

We are one with all nations in supporting Russia’s key role as a member of the Quartet in building peace in the Middle East. We laud Russia’s advocacy of multilateralism.

ASEAN’s relations with Russia hold great potential.

One direction that our relations must continue to take is on further cooperation in the war on terror and transnational crimes.

It is a war where we must all have "zero tolerance" for terrorist acts. There can be no justification for acts of terrorism.

ASEAN and Russia have issued the Joint Declaration on Partnership for Peace and Security and Prosperity and Development in Asia Pacific as well as the Declaration on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism. These are key instruments that should generate common action.

Co-chaired by the Philippines and Russia in Manila in 2004, the ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime had also laid a solid foundation for cooperation.

Cooperation will also be the key to successfully addressing another threat to our growth and progress – the unstable price of oil. We must therefore also intensify our cooperation on energy security.

While we are relieved at the recent downturn in oil prices, we still need to undertake collective initiatives to ensure stable energy supplies. This can be done through cooperation on large-scale development of alternative and renewable energy sources, intensifying oil and gas exploration, and promotion of energy conservation and energy efficiency.

Russia has rich natural resources. It has unmatched expertise in special equipment for extreme conditions. It has marine and inland transport systems that allow it to safely and speedily move petroleum products. All this places Russia is in a unique position to work with ASEAN in energy security.

It is in the context of greater cooperation between ASEAN and Russia, and as incoming ASEAN Coordinator for our dialogue, that the Philippines is honored to join the other ASEAN member-countries which have signed the necessary instrument on Russia’s accession to the WTO.

It is also in these contexts that the Philippines welcomes Russia’s presence during the EAS and looks forward to Russia’s membership in the East Asia community.

From a region dominated by superpower rivalry, we are building the foundations for greater cooperation in a changing world.

From a once divided region, we are constructing a greater regional community.

By geographic right and footprint, Russia is surely a part of East Asia.

By its commitment to our region and the principles on which we are building our community – Russia is a major and indispensable part of the East Asia region.