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Japan PM Abe set to make historic visit to Davao City

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/11/abe-duterte-011117.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) is greeted by Japan&#x27;s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the start of their meeting at Abe&#x27;s official residence in Tokyo, Japan October 26, 2016. Issei Kato, Reuters/File</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will discuss counter-terrorism and drug rehabilitation projects, among other topics, with President Rodrigo Duterte during his two-day official visit to the Philippines this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.“President Duterte and Prime Minister Abe are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, counter-terrorism cooperation, drug rehabilitation projects, infrastructure development, maritime cooperation, and development projects,” the DFA said in a statement.Abe will be the first head of government to officially visit the Philippines this year, and the highest ranking official to ever visit Davao City, which is home to a large Japanese community, the DFA said.Abe will be accompanied by his wife, Akie, during the official visit on January 12 to 13.Abe’s visit reciprocates Duterte’s own <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/16/duterte-in-japan-for-talks-amid-concern-over-us-ties-south-china-sea">trip to Japan</a> last October.Abe, who first met Duterte at the ASEAN Summit in Laos last September, also personally requested to visit <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/17/japans-abe-wants-to-visit-dutertes-davao-home-palace">Duterte&#x27;s home</a> during his three-day visit to the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella revealed yesterday.&quot;They have struck a resonant chord between the two of them and apparently, Prime Minister Abe wants to visit the President&#x27;s house,&quot; Abella told reporters.The Japanese leader will arrive in Manila on Thursday and will be given a dinner at the Malacañang Palace before flying to Davao City on Friday.Abe&#x27;s visit comes as Duterte pivots Philippine foreign policy away from its traditional ally, the US. Since he assumed office in mid-2016, he has normalized bilateral ties with China and is expanding relations with Russia.

MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will discuss counter-terrorism and drug rehabilitation projects, among other topics, with President Rodrigo Duterte during his two-day official visit to the Philippines this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will discuss counter-terrorism and drug rehabilitation projects, among other topics, with President Rodrigo Duterte during his two-day official visit to the Philippines this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.