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Tuesday, January 7, 2025
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Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Duterte out to win over ME nations

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte departed on Monday to visit three Middle Eastern countries to forge deeper and more meaningful relations especially on trade and investment.

“There is much at stake in the Philippines’ relations with the Middle East,” Duterte said in his departure speech.

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“It is the global center of traditional energy resources. It is a source of investments with potential for much growth. It is an expanding market for key Philippine products and services. And, it is home to the largest group of Filipinos working overseas.”

President Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte said the importance of reinforcing the Philippines’ ties with the Middle East could not be overstated.

The first leg of his trip will be Saudi Arabia where he will meet with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

“It is and will be an important and valuable opportunity to reaffirm a lasting friendship and seek ways [of] further broadening cooperation,,” Duterte said.

He will then proceed to Bahrain to meet with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama and then to Doha, Qatar, to meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

In both countries, the President will also seek to further broaden cooperation in terms of politico-security and defense, trade and investments, labor, energy, health, education and culture.

Duterte will likewise seek the support of the leaders in the Middle East to bring a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

“I also look forward to exchanging views with them on regional security issues, promoting inter-cultural dialogue and the Philippines’ efforts at community building in Asean,” he said.

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