Duterte flies back to PH after 5-day Russia visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte prior to their meeting at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on October 3, 2019. AFP

MOSCOW, Russia — President Rodrigo Duterte left here late Saturday (early Sunday in Manila) after his five-day visit to the Russian capital and Sochi city.

He left Vnukovo Military Base Airport at 11:21 p.m. (4:21 a.m. Manila time).

While in Russia, Duterte held separate talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

Duterte also delivered a speech at the Valdai Forum alongside other heads of state namely Putin, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Azerbaijan President Heydar Oglu Aliyev.

The President also brought home 10 business agreements which covered wide range of areas from importation of products to Russia as well as intent to explore the prospect of cooperation to construct nuclear power plants in the Philippines.

Duterte was also conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in diplomacy by a top Russian school for future diplomats. /je