Grateful for its kindness toward the Philippines, President Duterte is scheduled to make another visit to China to further enhance diplomatic and economic relations.
At the gathering of Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Pasay City last Friday, the President announced that he would attend the “One Belt, One Road” summit upon the invitation of China President Xi Jingping. The major forum which aims to connect China’s neighbors through massive infrastructure projects is slated in Beijing this May.
“I would like to thank again President Xi Jingping for being just too kind to us. And I am going there,” Duterte said.
“I was invited by the President himself ‘yung the One Road, One Belt, One Road. It’s a very ambitious project of China,” he added.
This would be the second visit of President Duterte to China since he assumed office last June amid improving ties.
Duterte made a state visit to Beijing last October.
In his remarks, Duterte acknowledged that the country has benefited a lot from the improved trade and investment relations with China.
“I would like to thank China. China alone for helping us and initially the 10 billion investments that they promised,” he said, adding China also plans to build two bridges in Manila for free.
Duterte said the local economy is “improving” with the help of China’s decision to ease trade restrictions for the country’s agricultural products.
“I would like to thank China again. Our exports in banana have doubled and the pineapple increased by 50 percent,” he said.
“And China says, you sell to us what you have in your country. And we will teach you how to improve on the quality before you send it there. But we are willing, we are opening the floodgates of our country in importation because we want to help you,” he added.
Duterte said when he met President Xi last year, he told him about his intention to expand trade relations with China.
He made clear that he was not seeking a military alliance with anybody “certainly, I can choose the friends who are kind to us, those who understand us, and those who do not make imposition.” (GENALYN KABILING)