Philippine president to focus on Philippines-China cooperation during BRF attendance

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will discuss infrastructure development, trade and investment and deepening cooperation with China during the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing this week, a senior Philippine diplomat said on Monday.

Duterte is scheduled to leave for Beijing on Wednesday to attend the BRF to be held from April 25 to April 27, said Philippine Foreign Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre on a Pre-Departure Briefing.

"(The Philippines and China) are expected to chart the course of further development of bilateral relations in various areas like defense, security, economics, and development as well as regional and international issues of mutual importance," Montealegre told reporters.

Montealegre further said Duterte is expected to discuss a "more detailed cooperation in various areas involving infrastructure, trade and investment, people-to-people relations as well as regional cooperation."

Montealegre said the Philippines would like to take advantage of the economic opportunities that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will provide.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.

Duterte also attended the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May 2017.

Montealegre said the Philippines wishes to maintain warm relations with China, a close neighbor.

"We always want to maintain close relations with China and that has been exhibited over the past few years (since Duterte assumed office in 2016). So, we'll continue along those lines," Montealegre said.

Editor: John Li