Duterte meets Putin, Medvedev
PH to boost defense cooperation with Russia to combat terrorism, transnational crimes
MOSCOW, Russia – President Duterte arrived here early Wednesday (Russia time) to begin his five-day official visit highlighted by his bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Duterte arrived at the Vnukovo International Airport here at 3:25 a.m. (Moscow time). He was greeted by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta, and Philippine Defense Attache to Russia Den
nis Pastor.
He was also welcomed by Deputy Director of the State Protocol Department Andrey Igorevich, and Third Asian Department Deputy Director Anatoly Borovik.
Duterte left the Philippines Tuesday afternoon and arrived here onboard PR 001. This is his second visit to Russia since he became president in 2016. His first visit in May 2017 was cut short because of the war in Marawi City against ISIS-inspired terrorists.
Auspicious opportunity
According to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, Duterte sees his second visit to Russia as an “auspicious opportunity” to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
“Our leader views his latest trip as an auspicious opportunity to deepen our ties with the Russian Federation,” he said early Wednesday.
"He further considers this second visit as a good occasion to broaden Philippines-Russia cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as trade and economics, defense and military, health, and science and technology, among others," he added.
Panelo said it was under the Duterte administration that both the Philippines and Russia witnessed a "dramatic reinvigoration" of formal diplomatic relations since its establishment in June 1976.
"The President hopes to have a robust, comprehensive, and mutually-beneficial partnership with Russia under President Putin whom our Chief Executive fondly calls his favorite hero," he said.
Meetings
Duterte will start his official duties on October 2 with his bilateral meeting with Medvedev at the Prime Minister’s Office. The two first met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, in September 2016, and then in Manila for the 50th ASEAN Summit last November 2017.
This will be followed by a courtesy call of Rosneft (Global Public Oil and Gas Corporation) CEO Igor Sechin on the President.
Duterte is set to have his bilateral meeting with Putin in Sochi on Thursday. This will be Duterte's fourth time to speak with his Russian counterpart. The two first met in November 2016 at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Peru, followed by their meeting in Russia in May 2017, and then at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam in November last year.
Defense cooperation
Before leaving for Russia Thuesday night, President Duterte disclosed plans to boost cooperative ties on security and defense when he meets Putin.
The two leaders are expected to
hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Valdai forum in Sochi City.
“In Sochi, I will meet President Putin to take stock of the state of our bilateral relations. We will identify ways of further intensifying cooperation areas of security and defense, combating terrorism and violent extremism, and addressing transnational crimes,” Duterte said.
“I will take the opportunity to discuss regional and global developments that impact the Philippines and Russia as key points of convergence of national interests where we can work together,” he added.
The two leaders will also witness the signing of several agreements between their governments. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that agreements to be signed will cover practical areas of cooperation such as culture, health, and basic research, among others. It was earlier reported that a labor agreement will also be signed during the visit.
President Duterte is also set to have a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein in Sochi on Thursday. This will be the second meeting between the Philippine leader and the Middle Eastern monarch after Duterte's state visit to Amman, Jordan in September last year.
Valdai forum
Duterte will speak at the Forum of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi about any subject related to the theme "The World Order Seen From The East."
The DFA had earlier said that the President’s participation in the said forum was historic since it was the first time that a Philippine president was invited to speak.
Duterte is expected to give his perspective or vision of the world order and how this relates to Philippine foreign policy. It was also said that Duterte may include in his speech an explanation of his independent foreign policy and an overview of how important PhilippinesRussia relations are.
The Valdai International Discussion Club is one of Russia’s prominent and respected think tanks and discussion groups. It organizes annually the Valdai Forum where top Russian and international officials as well as policymakers, academics, and journalists are invited.
TASS Russian News Agency reported that Putin planned to meet with Duterte and the presidents of Venezuela and Kazakhstan Nicolas Maduro and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the sidelines of the Valdai Forum.
Doctorate degree
The Chief Executive is set to receive on Saturday an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris causa) from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations University (MGIMO), one of the most prestigious and leading academic institutions in Russia in the area of diplomacy and international affairs.
The DFA had earlier said that President Duterte will also give a brief lecture and meet chess Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov at the said university.
Duterte is set to attend on Friday a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Aleksandrovaky Sad in Moscow before he takes a walking tour of the Moscow Kremlin. According to Panelo, Duterte will encourage Russian business leaders to invest in the Philippines. Russia is currently the Philippines' 21st trading partner, 34th export market, and 19th import supplier.
The President will also speak at the Philippine-Russia Business Forum at the Column Hall in the House of the Unions before he attends the Philippine Cultural Gala Performance here.
Duterte's five-day visit will be capped by his meeting with the members of the Filipino community in Moscow. According to the DFA, there are around 6,900 Filipinos living and working in Russia.
Delegation
Joining the President in his fiveday visit to Moscow and Sochi, aside from Secretaries Locsin and Andanar, are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, and Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.