Chinese premier’s meeting with President Duterte set
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will meet with President Duterte and other top leaders of the Philippine government at the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila on November 13 to 15.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Premier Li’s visit will allow the two leaders to have an “in-depth exchange of views” on how to deepen China-Philippines relations in the new era, practical cooperation in various fields and regional and international issues of common concern.
During the visit, the two sides are expected to issue a joint statement and reach a series of important cooperation agreements in areas like infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, social and people-to-people and cultural engagement.
This will be Li’s first visit in 10 years since China and Philippine bilateral relations have moved forward last year when Duterte assumed office.
“China and the Philippines are traditional friendly neighbors. Since the improvement of bilateral relations last year, the political mutual trust between the two countries has been deepened, the bilateral cooperation has been in full swing, the maritime dialogue and cooperation have been resumed and the China-Philippines relations have been moving forward for the better,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
Premier Li will also meet with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. They will also attend the stone-laying ceremony and the launching of a project funded and built by China.
“We believe that Premier Li Keqiang’s visit is of great significance to cementing China-Philippines goodneighborly friendship and promoting the steady development of ChinaPhilippines relations.
The Chinese government said since the turnaround of China-Philippines relations last year, “the two sides have smoothly advanced cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, development assistance, major infrastructure and people’s livelihood projects, and personnel exchanges, making remarkable achievement.”