PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte met Tuesday with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the formal launch of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
In a post by Presidential Communications Office on its Facebook page, Duterte reportedly had bilateral meeting with Lee at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos.
The Philippines and Singapore are both Asean founding members when they signed the Asean declaration in Bangkok in 1967.
After his meeting with Lee, the President proceeded to see Abe.
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza, who was present during the meeting, said that Abe told Duterte that he was also "popular" in Japan.
“You are very popular in Japan, Mr. President (Duterte),” Dureza took to his Facebook account, echoing Abe’s statement.
The Philippines and Japan have strong diplomatic ties, which dates back to 1889 when the first consultate of Japan in Manila was established.
This was the first time Duterte met the two leaders.
On August 11, the President met Japan Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, who had extended Abe’s invitation to Duterte to visit Japan. (Sunnex)
