(RIYADH) – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived Monday evening, April 10, for a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Philippine Airlines PR001, carrying the President and his delegation, landed at 9:43 p.m. local time (2:43 a. m. Manila time) at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

President Duterte was welcomed by Saudi officials led by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh; and the Chief of Royal Protocol and Minister-in-Attendance Ali bin Nasser al-Ghafis, Minister of Labor and Social Development.

Among the Philippine officials who greeted the President at the airport were Consul General and Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine embassy to KSA Imelda Panolong, Consul-General Iric Arribas, Consuls Christopher Patrick Aro, and Mary Jennifer Dingal; and Vice Consuls Noel Rodriguez, and Von Ryan Ferrera.

The President and the Governor of Riyadh were ushered to the Royal VIP lounge where the Crown Prince offered the Philippine President Arabic coffee as welcome drink.

Afterwards, President Duterte and the members of his delegation proceeded to the King Saud Guest Palace.

During his state visit, the President is expected to meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other high-ranking Saudi officials, and the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia.

The trip aims to forge stronger partnerships with the Saudi government, both in the political and economic fronts, and strengthen the efforts for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. ### PND