President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia and to speak before a prominent think tank forum, a first for a Philippine president, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
The President was invited by the Valdai Discussion Club to address the Oct. 3 forum that will be attended by top Russian and international officials, policymakers, academics, and journalists, officials said.
“The Valdai Discussion Club is one of the most prominent think tanks and international discussion club in Russia and they have invited several guests from different countries,” said Amelita Aquino, Foreign Affairs assistant secretary for European affairs.
Duterte will be among the five leaders that will talk on any subject related to the theme “The World Order Seen From the East,” she added.
Robert Borje, chief of Presidential Protocol, said the President is expected to “give his perspective or vision of the world order” and how this relates to Philippine foreign policy given the theme of the forum.
“Since he will be talking to a specific group, particularly intellectuals, academicians, journalists from Russia, then he’s expected to also provide an overview of how important Philippines-Russia relations are at this point,” he added.
Borje also said that Valdai Discussion Club expressed excitement over the participation of Duterte in the forum that will be held in Sochi.
“They’re very excited about the participation of the President. They said that it was the first time that a Philippine president has been invited to address the forum,” he said.
In 2016, Duterte had declared he would be the “first to join” a “new order” dominated by Russia and China.
Duterte and Putin are set to hold a bilateral meeting which is the “highlight” of the Oct. 1 to 5 visit, Aquino said.
“The highlight of the trip will be the President’s bilateral meeting with President Putin, where they will discuss the state of our bilateral relations and how both sides can further enhance and expand our cooperation in various areas. They will also exchange views on regional and global developments and other issues,” Aquino said.
The two leaders previously met at the APEC Summit in Peru in November 2016, during Duterte’s first visit to Russia in May 2017 and at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Vietnam in November 2017.
Some agreements are also expected to be signed during their meeting, including deals on health, culture and basic research.
Duterte is also scheduled on Oct. 5 to give a “lecture” at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, a training ground for Russia’s diplomats.
This was among the events that had been organized for his first visit to Russia in 2017 but had been cut short due to the Marawi siege.
He will also attend a Philippines-Russia business forum to promote trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
The President will also meet with members of the Filipino community in Russia on Oct. 5, the last day of his trip.
There are about 6,900 Filipinos currently working and living in Russia, majority of which are females and working in the household service sector, Aquino said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will be part of the Philippine delegation to Russia, Borje said.