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| This handout photo shows President Rodrigo Duterte in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 13, 2021. (Photo from Presidential photo) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA —On Tuesday night (April 13), President Rodrigo Duterte was in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the two reaffirmed commitment and tackled issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, defense, and the economy, the Palace said. Malacañang, in a statement, described the 30-minute call as "open and productive" as Manila and Moscow mark the 45th year since establishing diplomatic ties, PhilStar reported.
"The President thanked President Putin for Russia's commitment to bolster cooperation in various areas, including in combating the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement read. Duterte in his nearly five years in office sought to steer the country away from its longtime Western allies such as the United States and foster closer ties with countries such as Russia and China. On COVID-19 jabs, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said most of the supplies arriving until July this year are from the two nations. Beijing's donated Sinovac was the first to reach the country, while some 1.5 million doses have also arrived as the Duterte administration's first direct purchase.
The Palace said that the Philippines is ordering 20 million doses of Moscow's Sputnik V. Galvez had said too that some initial 20,000 doses will be delivered this week. The administration in 2018 reasserted that it can enter into contracts for the purchase of Russian military hardware.
