Chinese Vice Premier Hu in Manila

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chuanhua arrived in Manila on Tuesday afternoon for an official visit.

Hu arrived onboard an Air China chartered flight at 3:30 p.m. at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1.

He was met by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Chinese

Ambassador Zhiao Jianhua, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal and other officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Chinese Embassy.

As of press time, the DFA has yet to issue a statement on the purpose of Hu's visit and his itinerary.

Although the trip was announced as official, there was no red carpet welcome nor an honor guard for Hu at the Naia Terminal 1 arrival area concourse. A woman hung a lei on the Chinese official before he was ushered to the Naia dignitaries lounge.

Hu, 56, was named vice premier in March 2018. He became a member of the politburo or central bureau of the Communist Party of China the previous year.

He was former governor of Hebei province and party secretary in Guangdong and Inner Mongolia.