Duterte sets foot in Russia for second time

https://www.facebook.com/pcoogov/videos/681345092360048/

President Rodrigo Duterte is now in Russia, his second visit to the country upon the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Duterte arrived at the Vnukovo Military Base Airport in Moscow at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2 and was welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta and Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Along with the Philippine leader are Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, and Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Former Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who was recently appointed as deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), also joined the trip.

https://www.facebook.com/Mochablogger/photos/a.10150517244941522/10157845922681522/?type=3&theater

Duterte will be in Russia until Saturday, October 5. He is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Putin, whom he earlier called his “favorite hero.”

In his pre-departure speech on Tuesday, Duterte said he will use his second visit to Russia as an opportunity to “further broaden and deepen our engagement” with a country that has the same “key strategic interests” with the Philippines.

“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, combatting terrorism and violent extremism, and addressing transnational crimes,” he said.

“Certainly, 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.

Duterte will also join Putin and other world leaders at the Forum of the Valdai International Discussion Club where they are expected to provide their own perspective on the topic “The Dawn of the East and the World Political Order.”

He added that he is looking forward to meeting the Filipino community in Russia.

To recall, it was in May 2017 when Duterte first flew to Russia but was cut short due to the Marawi City siege.