Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on 30 October began a 2-day visit to Japan, with meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the imperial couple scheduled.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: EPA)

He is being accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano, Secretary of National Defence Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez and Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez.

During a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, the 2 leaders will seek to promote the bilateral strategic partnership relations and cooperation in socio-economic development, the Mindanao peace process and infrastructure development in the Southeast Asian nation.

They are expected to exchange views on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s nuclear and missile programs ahead of Manila's hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders' summit and East Asia Summit next month.

Before the visit, Duterte called on the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea to hold dialogues with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to dissuade him from pursuing his nuclear ambitions.

(Source: VNA)