President Duterte may have an opportunity to have an impromptu meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the two-day Belt and Road Forum (BRF) here, the Philippine envoy said on Saturday.
BEIJING — President Duterte may have an opportunity to have an impromptu meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the two-day Belt and Road Forum (BRF) here, the Philippine envoy said on Saturday.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana told reporters that Putin would be joining the forum which would be held here from today until Monday.
China has invited 29 state leaders to participate in the BRF for International Cooperation, a “historically significant” event that marks the shift in global powers from the West to Asia, Sta. Romana said.
“This is the first international forum where you’ ll see President Duterte with Xi Jinping and Putin. He’s talked about wanting to be with them, so here’s an opportunity. You have the emergence that this summit presents—a new world order, ” Sta. Romana said.
President Duterte has shifted the Philippines’ geopolitical strategy closer to home, by pushing closer ties to China and Russia while pulling away from the United States, its traditional defense ally.
Recent visits by Chinese and Russian naval vessels to the Philippines have punctuated the policy shift.
