(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) on the last day of his 5-day visit to Russia.
The MGIMO is considered the most elite university in Russia and is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian government.
The Moscow university hosted a solemn university ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 5, on the granting of the honorary doctorate degree to the 74-year old Philippine leader.
“Russia has a special place in my heart. It’s a great honor for me to speak here today before the future leaders of Russia,” President Duterte said after he was conferred the degree.
University Vice-Rector Artem Malgin offered a graduation gown and the certificate to the President and gave him the floor for the traditional doctorate lecture.
Duterte, during his remarks, said that both Russia and the Philippines have always been fighting for the right to exist and for its independence.
He said this is what brings our two peoples together.
The President also talked about security issues, stressing the importance of multilateral cooperation in countering international terrorism and transnational crime.
“Today, at the time of many challenges, it is important to soften the border between ‘self’ and ‘other’ and to see a part of ‘self’ in the ‘other’ and vice versa,” as he spoke about globalization and mutual understanding between people.
-Duterte asked about South China Sea, drug war after lecture-
President Duterte’s “doctorate lecture” was followed by a question and answer session where students asked him about his opinion about the settlement in the South China Sea, the cooperation between Russia and the Philippines in countering terrorism and international relations.
He was also asked about the fight against drug trafficking, social life in the Philippines and whether the citizens of this country are interested in learning the Russian language.
The President also met with the University administration and Russian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Among the Russian officials present during the meeting were Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, Vice-Rector Artem Malgin, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev, Director of the Third Asian Department at Russian MFA Nikolay Nozdrev, Director of MGIMO ASEAN Centre Viktor Sumsky.
Some members of the diplomatic community were also there, including Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Russia Thanatip Upatising, Ambassador of Malaysia to Russia Datuk Mat Dris Haji Yaacob, Ambassador of Brunei to Russia Haini Hashim, Ambassador of Myanmar to Russia Ko Ko Shein.
The President also visited the exhibition of Russian artists entitled “To the Islands of Sampaguita”.
Duterte’s lecture during the conferment of his honorary doctorate degree at MGIMO became the Duterte’s speech became a preface to an open course “ASEAN Academic Days”, which will be held on October 7 to 23 in MGIMO. The lectures will be delivered by prominent professors and experts from the South-East Asia.
