Abe’s Philippine visit in January to include Duterte’s hometown Davao

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will travel to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown of Davao when he visits the country next month, making it a “very significant and unique” trip, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Thursday. In an interview, Yasay said Abe’s planned three-day visit, which reciprocates one made by Duterte to Japan in October, is tentatively set for the second week of January. “The trip will be very significant . . . and unique because not only will Prime Minister Abe be visiting Manila and will have an activity in Malacanang, but more importantly, he will also be proceeding to Davao,” Yasay said. Malacanang Palace in Manila is the official residence and principal workplace of the president, while Davao, on the southern island of Mindanao, is where Duterte served as mayor for more than 20 years. Yasay said a number of activities, including visits to an international university being built...