Philippines, China sign six deals

April 11, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of six bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Prior to the signing of the deals, the two leaders had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday at the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan.

Reports from China, quoting Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, said Xi will visit the Philippines in November after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Papua New Guinea.

Xi last visited Manila during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III when the Philippines hosted APEC in 2015.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Ministry of Commerce Minister Zhong Shan inked the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation and the Exchange of Letters on the Phase III of the Technical Cooperation Project for the Filipino-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Zhong signed the Exchange of Letters for the Pre-Feasibility Study of the Proposed Davao City Expressway Project, while Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar and Zhong inked the Exchange Letter for Broadcasting Equipment to the PCOO.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment of Filipino Teachers of English Language in China.

Dominguez and Zhao also signed the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement on the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.

The PCOO, in a statement, said Duterte assured Xi of the Philippines "fullest cooperation" in  in combating transnational crimes and terrorism.

Duterte also said the two countries "can do more" to boost its military and defense cooperation under the framework of the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.  Celerina Monte/DMS