President Rodrigo Duterte has apologized to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for cutting short his trip to Japan last month.
Duterte said he regrets the decision, but he had to attend some pressing matters in the Philippines.
“Your Excellency, let me start the talks by giving you and your countrymen that it was my honor to be there during the enthronement of the Emperor,” Duterte said during his bilateral meeting with Abe on the sideline of the ASEAN Summit.
“I regret that I had to go first. I had to cut short. I was not able to attend your Gala Dinner because I had to attend to some pressing matters back home,” Duterte added in a report on Inquirer.net.
The President explained he also had an unbearable pain on his lower back that is why he went home earlier than expected.
Abe on the other hand said that he completely understood the President’s reasons.
“As I mentioned, with regard to the ceremony of the enthronement at the Seiden State Hall in Japan, that was an extremely important occasion for Japan and the Japanese people,” Abe said.
“And I am truly grateful for Mr. President’s participation in the ceremony and also I understand that because of the pressing issues that you had to go back to the Philippines. You have to shorten your visit,” the Prime Minister added.
