Duterte arrives in Moscow for official visit

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Moscow, Russia at 3:25 a.m. (8:25 a.m. PHL time) on Wednesday morning for a five-day official visit.

President Duterte has arrived in Moscow for his five-day official visit to Russia. The plane carrying Duterte and his delegation touched down at the Vnukovo Military Base Airport at 3:25 a.m. (8:25 a.m. Manila time) Wednesday. @gmanews

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) October 2, 2019

Duterte's plane landed at the Vnukovo Military Base Airport.

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta and Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev were at the airport to personally welcome him.

This is Duterte's second visit to Russia. Malacañang said he was invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A total of 15 Cabinet members led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. joined the presidential delegation as Duterte designated Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as officer-in-charge of the national government during the trip.

On Wednesday, Duterte will have separate meetings in Moscow with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Igor Sechin, head of Russia’s top oil producer Rosneft.

The President will then travel to the resort city of Sochi to speak at the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday, a first for a Philippine leader.

He will then have a bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Valdai forum.

On Friday, Duterte will attend a business forum in Moscw aimed at promoting trade and investment opportunities between the Philippines and Russia.

He will also be conferred an honorary doctorate degree by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, one of Russia's most prestigious learning institutions. Duterte is expected to give a lecture to Russia's future diplomats.

The President will also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Aleksandrovsky Garden, and will tour the Kremlin Palace and attend a Filipino cultural performance.

Duterte will end his visit on Saturday with a meeting with the Filipino community there. —KG, GMA News