Duterte to get honorary degree from Moscow school on int’l ties

President Rodrigo Duterte sees his second visit to Russia as an “auspicious opportunity” to bolster ties between Manila and Moscow, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Duterte arrived early Wednesday morning in Moscow for a five-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is a follow-up to his 2017 trip which was cut short due to the conflict in Marawi City.

He is expected to have separate meetings with Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and talk about the Philippines’ independent foreign policy before the Valdai forum in Sochi.

Duterte will also receive an honorary doctorate degree from the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

He will also meet with Russian businessmen to encourage more economic linkages and touch base with the Filipino community

“[O]ur leader views his latest trip as an auspicious opportunity to deepen our ties with the Russian Federation,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. 

“He further considers this second visit as a good occasion to broaden Philippines-Russia cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as trade and economics, defense and military, health, and science and technology, among others.”

Panelo added it was under the Duterte administration that the Philippines and Russia witnessed a “dramatic reinvigoration“ of formal diplomatic relations since its establishment in 1976.

He said Duterte hopes to have a ”robust, comprehensive and mutually-beneficial partnership” with Russia under Putin whom the chief executive fondly called his “favorite hero.” —NB, GMA News