PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is looking forwarding to having a bilateral dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economic leaders’ summits to be held in Peru on November 19 to 20.
Duterte made the announcement during a dinner with reporters who covered him during the campaign for May 9 presidential elections.
“It will happen, I ask for it,” Duterte said. “Earlier tonight, I had a long talk with the ambassador of Russia. I reiterated my desire to meet Putin, [have a] bilateral [meeting with him].”
Earlier in the day, the President met Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev in Malacañang.
Duterte said he would not raise any issues and was merely eyeing to see Putin because he wanted to befriend him.
“I don’t ask for anything. I want to be friends with him. I just want the two countries to be the best of friends. This is an economic world. If there are things we can sell them or export to them, it’s better,” the President said.
The 71-year-old chief executive earlier said he might skip the Apec meetings because of the long-haul travel.
But in a pre-departure conference, Leo Lim Sr., senior special assistant of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ International Economic Relations, said Duterte would attend the event to discuss with other leaders his policies implemented in the Philippines.
“He (Duterte) believes, I think, that Apec is one good platform for him to articulate again his policies because when you look at the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the President, many of the agenda items there are within the sphere of Apec’s agenda," Lim said.
Lim also confirmed that the government is arranging bilateral meetings with at least four different leaders of the country. He, however, did not disclose the names the President will meet. (Sunnex)
