PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte welcomed United States (US) Secretary of State Michael Pompeo with a handshake during their meeting at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday night, February 28.
Duterte went to Pasay City to meet Pompeo, who arrived for a two-day visit to the country.
After the handshake, Duterte and Pompeo proceeded to a room for a meeting.
On Tuesday, February 26, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte and Pompeo would likely talk about key issues that are "mutually beneficial" to the Philippines and the US.
Panelo said "mutual concerns" like security and terrorism would be brought up during Duterte's meeting with Pompeo.
"I'm sure there will be talks between their government and our government with respect to our relations," the Palace official said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
"Any subject matter that is mutually beneficial to both countries will be discussed or any matter for the Secretary to raise," he added.
Pompeo's visit to the Philippines comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to reach out to China to end the trade war between Beijing and Washington.
Duterte considers China a "friend" despite Manila and Beijing's overlapping claims to the resource-rich South China Sea. (Ruth Abbey Gita/VoxPop Philippines)