Duterte to meet Putin in Russia in October
Published Sep 19, 2019 10:13 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte is expected to visit Russia early next month to enhance the country’s bilateral relations.
VIETNAM MEETING – President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Da Nang, Vietnam last November 2017. (EPA-EFE | Manila Bulletin/ FILE PHOTO)
The President has accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Russia in the first week of October, according to presidential spokesman Savaldor Panelo.
This will be the second visit of the President to Russia since he cut short his travel to Moscow in May 2017 due to the deadly clashes between government troops and Islamic State-linked militants in Marawi City. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao before rushing back home to deal with the security problem.
"Ang sabi niya ay inimbitahan siya ni Russian President at tinanggap na niya. Ia-announce niya na lang kung ano ang mangyayari doon ," Panelo said in an interview with reporters at the Palace Thursday.
Panelo said the President's visit to Russia would be held "mostly likely first week of October."
The country's relations with Russia are expected to be further enhanced when the President holds another round of talks with Putin. "When you visit a country other than yours, it means you are trying to improve the relations. It could mean further improved relations between the two countries," Panelo said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier bared that the President would visit Russia next month "to make up for his first state visit that was aborted within half a day of arriving by the fall of Marawi to jihadis including foreign fighters.” Locsin made the comment while defending the Department of Foreign Affairs' proposed 2020 budget before a Senate committee hearing.
President Duterte has revitalized the country's economic and defense relations with Russia as he deplored the interference from other western powers on local affairs. Duterte also often heaped praises on his "idol” Putin, particularly thanking Russia for the timely delivery of weapon and other equipment that helped defeat the Islamic State-linked militants in Marawi.
The two leaders last met when they attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China last April.
VIETNAM MEETING – President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Da Nang, Vietnam last November 2017. (EPA-EFE | Manila Bulletin/ FILE PHOTO)
The President has accepted the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Russia in the first week of October, according to presidential spokesman Savaldor Panelo.
This will be the second visit of the President to Russia since he cut short his travel to Moscow in May 2017 due to the deadly clashes between government troops and Islamic State-linked militants in Marawi City. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao before rushing back home to deal with the security problem.
"Ang sabi niya ay inimbitahan siya ni Russian President at tinanggap na niya. Ia-announce niya na lang kung ano ang mangyayari doon ," Panelo said in an interview with reporters at the Palace Thursday.
Panelo said the President's visit to Russia would be held "mostly likely first week of October."
The country's relations with Russia are expected to be further enhanced when the President holds another round of talks with Putin. "When you visit a country other than yours, it means you are trying to improve the relations. It could mean further improved relations between the two countries," Panelo said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier bared that the President would visit Russia next month "to make up for his first state visit that was aborted within half a day of arriving by the fall of Marawi to jihadis including foreign fighters.” Locsin made the comment while defending the Department of Foreign Affairs' proposed 2020 budget before a Senate committee hearing.
President Duterte has revitalized the country's economic and defense relations with Russia as he deplored the interference from other western powers on local affairs. Duterte also often heaped praises on his "idol” Putin, particularly thanking Russia for the timely delivery of weapon and other equipment that helped defeat the Islamic State-linked militants in Marawi.
The two leaders last met when they attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China last April.