PH, Chinese officials set meeting in Beijing this week

Philippine and Chinese officials are set to meet in Beijing this week to continue discussions on ways to address issues in the preparation and implementation of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects that China has committed to support through official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants.

The Department of Finance (DOF) said that the meetings, set on Aug. 22 to 24, will include updates on the progress of the “first basket” of projects for Chinese loan financing, such as the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project, the Philippine National Railways’ South Long Haul Project, and the Davao-Samal Bridge Construction Project, along with the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges that are being funded with grants from China.

Led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the Philippine delegation to China will also include Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socioeonomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, and Vivencio Dizon, president-CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is also expected to join the Philippine delegation.

Dominguez and the other members of the delegation are set to meet with China’s State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan; Director Wang Xiaotao of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA); Chairperson Hu Xiaolian of the Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM); and Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). /