Doha ‘honored’ as Duterte lands in Qatar — minister

DOHA — Qatari officials, led by Qatar Energy Minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, gave President Rodrigo Duterte a red carpet, and a royal welcome here on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

The plane carrying Duterte arrived at the Doha International Airport at about 9 p.m. local time Friday (2 a.m. Saturday in Manila) from Bahrain.

Al Sada said Qatar was “deeply honored and proud to have you here Mr. President” and also thanked Duterte for taking time to visit the state.

Al Sada said Qatar was also proud to have hosted hardworking Filipinos, who were instrumental in the state’s progress.

Duterte, the only other Philippine President who had visited Qatar since 2008 (then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came here in December of that year) will be meeting with some 6,000 Overseas Filipino Workers here at about 6 p.m. Saturday (11 p.m. Saturday in Manila) after attending the Philippine-Qatar Business Forum.

On Sunday, he will be meeting with Qatar  Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan (Palace) “on bilateral relations and means of boosting them in various fields.” CBB