DAVAO CITY - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited President Rodrigo Duterte at his home here on Friday, in a rare diplomatic gesture aimed at strengthening relations between their two nations.

Clad in a plaid blue shirt, Duterte toured Abe around his house, located on the outskirts of this southern city where he served as mayor for two decades.

The Philippine leader also prepared for his guest a breakfast spread of biko, suman and kutsinta (rice cakes) and mongo soup.

Photos of the visit were released by the President's special assistant, Christopher Go.

Abe, who was wearing a crisp white shirt with short sleeves, smiled as Duterte showed him his bedroom. A folded mosquito net was visible in one of the pictures.

Abe's visit to Duterte's house is a sign of "friendship and confidence" according to diplomats, who said the Japanese leader could be trying to help repair strained the Philippines' strained ties with the US, their common ally.

Abe is the first head of government to visit the country under Duterte. He is also the highest-ranking foreign official to visit Davao, which is home to a large Japanese community, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.