President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived in Beijing Wednesday night for a five-day official visit to China upon the invitation of the Chinese government.
President Duterte will meet with President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss developments in bilateral relations of the two countries as well as other regional issues. It is his fifth visit to China and the eighth bilateral meeting between him and President Xi.
“The leaders are expected to exchange views on further deepening and broadening bilateral engagement in areas of interest to both countries, such as defense and security, infrastructure and development cooperation, and energy in order to strengthen the Philippines and China’s Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation,” said a Palace statement released on Wednesday.
The two leaders will witness the signing of key agreements aimed at increasing the breadth and depth of Philippine-China cooperation.
A dinner banquet will be hosted by the Chinese leader for President Duterte and the members of his delegation.
Aside from meeting with President Xi, President Duterte will also meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang “to discuss ways of spurring and intensifying Philippines-China economic ties, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and ASEAN-China cooperation.”
The President will then travel to Guangzhou in Guandong province and is expected to be received by PROC Vice President Wang Qishan and other top provincial political leaders.
One of the highlights of President Duterte’s trip to China is to express support to Gilas Pilipinas in its first 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup game at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center.
The members of the President’s official delegation are Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez, DOST Sec. Fotunato dela Peña, Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero. PND
