President Rodrigo Roa Duterte greets the officers from the Philippine Embassy in Russia upon his arrival at a hotel in Moscow, Russian Federation on October 2, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
SOCHI, Russia — Security cooperation and the fight against terrorism top President Duterte’s agenda when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the second day of his official visit here.
Before leaving Manila on Tuesday, the President said he and Putin would “identify ways to further intensifying cooperation in the areas of security and defense, combatting terrorism and violent extremism, and addressing transnational crimes.”
The President also reiterated his desire to engage Russia while keeping relations with long-standing partners, alluding to the United States.
Despite establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, the Philippines’ bilateral relations with Russia have been in the doldrums after the thawing of the US-Soviet Cold War.
The President stressed that geopolitical “realities and global developments require that nations … should have an agile foreign policy.”
He added the need for “key nations at the margins of our foreign policy” to “fully explore the potentials of mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Mr. Duterte’s second visit to Russia would include discussions on trade and economics, defense and military issues, health, science and technology.
Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta said the two leaders would have “quite a bit” to discuss and that the country’s embassy was “working very aggressively” to introduce the Philippines to Russians who only have a “stereotypical” knowledge of the country.
The President’s previous visit to Russia in 2017 was cut short after pro-Islamist State terrorists seized Marawi City in May.
The bilateral meeting on Thursday is the fourth between Putin and President Duterte, who had less formal discussions in the 2016 and 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.