Duterte’s next stop: Russia

President Duterte is keen on strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and Russia during his much-awaited visit to Moscow next week.

But presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that while no deals are expected to be signed between the two countries just yet, Duterte’s visit will focus in strengthening ties with Russia, particularly socio-economic ties.

“I don’t know if there’s much to be expected in terms of signing or anything like that. Basically, I think it will be just the President broadening his horizons, his international relations,” Abella said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

Abella said that the areas of cooperation that the Philippine government is looking into entering with Russia include economics and maybe people-to-people exchange. “I suppose part of that is economics and maybe people-to-people exchange. That’s as much as I can say,” he said.