Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and Hala Lattouf, Jordan’s Minister of Social Development review guards of honor upon Duterte’s arrival at the airport in the capital Amman in this file photo taken on September 5, 2018. (Photo by KHALIL MAZRAAWI / AFP)
Updated @ 6:31 p.m., Sept. 8, 2018
AMMAN, Jordan — President Rodrigo Duterte returned to the Philippines Saturday after his “historic” trips to Israel and Jordan.
Duterte arrived at the Davao International Airport at 10:55 a.m.
“I am pleased to renew the Philippines’ friendship with two important countries in a region of crucial significance to our nation,” he said in his arrival speech.
In Israel, Duterte met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his four-day official visit.
“We identified ways and means of broadening cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes, enhance security and defense, intensify two-way trade and investment and improve people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
“With President Reuven Rivlin, I discussed the need to improve technical cooperation, particularly in capacity and capability building,” he added.
The President also met with Jordanian King Abdullah II during his three-day official visit.
“We identified areas for concrete collaboration to address terrorism and extreme violence,” he said.
“Together with His Majesty’s Cabinet, we discussed ways to expand cooperation in two-way trade and investment, human resource development, interfaith dialogue and tourism,” he added.
The President said “the welfare and well-being of Filipinos overseas received full attention in discussions during the twin visits.” /jpv /atm