Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited President Duterte to visit China next year for an annual forum on its massive infrastructure program.
The visiting Chinese leader relayed the invitation to Duterte after their “friendly” and “productive” meeting on closer cooperation on trade and investments and infrastructure development in Malacañang Tuesday.
“I have extended a sincere invitation to President Duterte to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which China will host next year to discuss China-Philippines cooperation,” Xi said during a joint press statement with Duterte at the Palace.
“The two sides will seek greater complementarity between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ development strategy, move forward cooperation around the three pillars of security, development, and people-to-people ties and then make our cooperation more comprehensive and balanced,” he added.
The two leaders tackled China’s multibillion dollar flagship program that seeks to build a sprawling trade and infrastructure network spanning Asia and Europe during their meeting at the Palace.
Duterte, in his remarks, said they particularly discussed the Philippines’ participation in China’s belt and road plan as well as China’s role in his government’s Build, Build, Build program.
Duterte said he was pleased with the positive momentum of the Philippines-China relations. He said he hopes close cooperation between the two nations would help bring prosperity to both nations and help keep peace and stability in the region.
In May 2017, President Duterte joined Xi and other leaders in the first Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation in Beijing.At the summit, Duterte made an investment pitch for the government’s infrastructure program and how it dovetailed with China’s belt and road plan.
Meantime, Xi recognized that China and the Philippines have been “good and close neighbors” for many years, adding both nations are committed to strengthen such alliance.
He said the relations between the two countries have been defined by “equality, mutual assistance and a common destiny, and that our strong relationship is a shared asset of the two peoples.”
“However the international situation may change, both sides will remain committed to this relationship and work hard to make it even stronger,” he said.
Xi also praised Duterte for his leadership in pursuing a development path that “created a bright prospect of economic and social development.” “China respects and supports your endeavours and we would like to see the Philippines playing an even bigger role in regional and international affairs,” he said.
As he sought to foster closer trade and economic cooperation with the Philippines, Xi also made a pitch against protectionism policies in an apparent swipe at the United States.
“Both sides believe that one single center shifts are underway around us, making the world more multipolar and the global economy more integrated,” he said.
“Faced with the big issues of peace and development, China and the Philippines must join hands to uphold the interests of the developing world, resist protectionism and unilateralism, and promote peace, stability and prosperity in our region and beyond,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)