The Philippines may sign five potential agreements with China, including official development assistance, during President Duterte’s visit to Beijing this week amid moves to strengthen bilateral relations.
The two countries are finalizing the bilateral accords on areas such as education, drug rehabilitation, anti-corruption, and ODA, according to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre.
The President is scheduled to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing from April 25 to 27 upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are also expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the summit.
This will be Duterte’s fourth visit to Beijing since he assumed office in 2016.
“We’re looking at five probably,” Montealegre said about the possible Philippine-China agreements during a Malacanang press briefing. “We are looking at some possible agreements in the areas of education, anti-corruption, official development assistance, as well as drug rehabilitation,” he added.
Montealegre said the agreements between the Philippines and China are presently in the “final stages of consultations.”
“They are in the final stages actually so I cannot pinpoint if there will be one. But there are ongoing consultations on various agreements that will be discussed also,” he said.
Asked about the details of the ODA and other deals with China, Montealegre said he has no information yet and left to the economic mangers to tackle the matter.
The possible signing of more deals with China comes amid the controversy generated by some Chinese loans on the Kaliwa Dam and Chico River irrigation projects. Some groups claimed that the Chinese-funded projects were onerous to the government and raised concerns the county might lose some assets if the loans will be unpaid. (Genalyn Kabiling)