MANDALUYONG CITY – Vice President Sara Duterte has strengthened diplomatic relationship with other countries after holding significant and productive engagements with the diplomatic corps and foreign officials since assuming office on July 1.

In the past 100 days, Duterte already met with the ambassadors from Australia, Italy, Ireland, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, the European Union, Qatar, India, and the United States at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Central Office and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Within a week in office, Duterte received a courtesy call from the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Wang Yi on July 6 where both officials discussed education and other priority areas of cooperation between the Philippines and China.

The topics discussed during courtesy calls with the different ambassadors to the Philippines included bilateral relations between the Philippines and their countries. These courtesy calls also touched on deepening or exploring possible cooperation in the areas of education, culture, and technology.

As concurrent Secretary for Education, the Vice President hosted the 2022 Flag Raising Ceremony and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cultural Exhibition in commemoration of the 55th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN at the Department of Education on August 8.

Duterte also spearheaded the gift-giving to daycare children of Mandaluyong City in partnership with the Embassy of the State of Qatar and the City Government of Mandaluyong on October 6.

She also visited the Japanese and British Ambassadors’ Residences to convey her condolences on the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo July 8 and Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.

On September 25 to 28, the Vice President embarked on her first foreign official visit to Tokyo, Japan as the President’s Special Envoy to the State Funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

In her trip to Japan, Duterte was joined by “Trix,” a Grade 9 student from Dinalupihan, Bataan and her mother “Jen” for the “You Can Be VP” project of the OVP that aims to inspire learners to “dream big and aim high.”

The Vice President also met with members of the Filipino community to convey the President and the country’s well wishes to our “kababayans” in Japan.

OVP MEDIA