PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte flew to Middle East Monday, April 10, for his official visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar to explore cooperation in the field of trade and investments as well as to discuss the welfare of Filipinos there.
"I leave today to embark on a mission to forge deeper and more meaningful and positive engagement in the Middle East," Duterte said in his departure speech.
Duterte will spend his Holy Week in Middle East starting Monday. He will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia until April 12 then in Manama, Bahrain from April 12 to 14 and in Doha, Qatar on April 14 to 16.
"It (Middle East) is an expanding market of Philippine key political product and services and it is a home to the largest group of Filipinos working overseas," Duterte said.
He said these rich countries are frontrunners and global centers of traditional energy resources.
The President will meet the leaders of these countries to reaffirm bilateral ties and seek ways to further broaden cooperation particularly in security and defense, trade and investments.
Duterte will forge partnership with the Middle Eastern countries in strengthening anti-narcotics campaign and address concerns and ways to boost the landscape of labor, energy, and education, among others, between these countries.
They are also expected to tackle the convergence of interest in order to intensify trade and investments and seek greater political security cooperation and exchange.
The President will also bring up peace in Mindanao and will ask for their support in attaining it.
"I also look forward to exchanging views with them in the regional security issue, promoting intercultural dialogue in the Philippines' effort in community building in Asean," he said.
One of the highlights of his visit is his scheduled meeting with the Filipino community. He also plans to meet those who are facing death row in a bid to bring them back here to the country.
"While in the Middle East, I will meet the Filipino communities. I am excited to see them and thank them for the support for our efforts to bring reform and change in our country," he said.