President Rodrigo Duterte may visit Vietnam later this year or in 2020 on the invitation of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Malacañang said Thursday.
The Vietnamese official paid a courtesy call on Duterte at the presidential palace and conveyed Hanoi’s invitation for him to make another visit.
Duterte first visited Vietnam in September 2016 and had a meeting with the late Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, which resulted in an agreement to strengthen cooperation on trade, promote peace and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, ensure the safety and security of fishermen from both countries, and to solve amicably the unexpected incidents at sea.
A year later, Duterte traveled to Danang to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
“Deputy Prime Minister Minh also congratulated the President for the developments in the Philippines as well as the country’s pivotal role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” the Palace said in a statement.
Also during that day, Duterte received Bahrain’s First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth Sports Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Sheikh Khalid’s visit to the Philippines signified an “improvement on the level of bilateral relations between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
“If you remember, I said that we stand by you and we will be with you in case you need us,” Duterte told Sheikh Khalid during the meeting.
“And again, let me reiterate our deep sense of camaraderie with our people. Also for the humane treatment given to our citizens. Thank you very much,”
Sheikh Khalid is a son of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.