MANILA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left for Russia on Tuesday for a five-day official visit that includes a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his upcoming meeting with Putin in the Russian city of Sochi, Duterte said they will "take stock of the state of (the Philippines and Russia) bilateral relations."
"We will identify ways of further intensifying cooperation areas of security and defense, combatting terrorism and violent extremism, and addressing transnational crimes," Duterte said in his departure speech before boarding the plane.
"Certainly, I will take the opportunity to discuss regional and global developments that impact the Philippines and Russia as key points of convergence of national interests where we can work together," he added.
Duterte said it is "an important opportunity to further broaden and deepen our engagement with a country we share key strategic interests both bilaterally and in the larger Asia-Pacific region."
The Philippine president will also join Putin and other world leaders at the Forum of the Valdai Discussion Club.
"This will be an opportune occasion to articulate, to a key audience, our independent Philippine foreign policy -- one that is based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference, the time-honored principles of international law," he said.
Duterte said in Moscow, he will also meet Filipino and Russian business leaders to encourage more economic linkages.
This is Duterte's second visit to Russia. Duterte first visited Russia in May 2017 but the trip was cut short when terrorists attacked Marawi City in southern Philippines.
