President Rodrigo Duterte said he will visit China and Russia to open up the Philippines for Chinese and Russian investors. 



In a speech during the oath taking rites of new officials of the Malacanan Press Corps on Monday, President Duterte said he had discussions with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.



But the President clarified that he would not break ties with the United States but will start stronger trade alliances with China and Russia.

“I had a good talk with the prime minister, Medvedev. He is there awaiting for my visit. After China I will go to Japan and I’ll go to Russia,” he told reporters.



Among the sectors that would be opened for Russian and Chinese investors include telecommunications and commercial aviation, he said.

“May kapital kayo? You want to put up an airline here? Shipping here? You want land? Sixty years plus another 60 years. That is like a lifetime, more than. After 60 years, di mo na kailangan ‘yan factory mo,” he said.

President Duterte is set to be in Vietnam for his official visit there this week.

This will be the first visit of Duterte in Vietnam since he assumed the presidency last June 30.



With regard to China, the President reiterated that he would ask Chinese leaders to at least allow Filipino fishermen to fish in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.



“It is ours. If we are not really ready to talk about it, a hard sell, then I’ll just say that ‘allow my countrymen to fish there because it means food security,'” he said. PND