Duterte to visit China anew

 DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte is set to visit China again soon, following his state visit last month where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in an effort to further strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and China.

“I am going back to China soon. The schedule is being worked out now,” the President said upon arrival Wednesday night here from his trip to Lima, Peru where he attended the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit. 

The trip to Peru will be the last one he will be making this year. 

The President said that of all the countries where he went on a state visit, it is with China that there have been fast developments when it comes to the agreements and other arrangements forged during his visit.

The President, however, refused to divulge yet the details of his new trip to China.

The President likewise said that he will also visit Russia upon the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

“But I could not visit Russia these days because it is too cold. Maybe I could go there by March when it is spring,” the President said. 

Duterte traveled to Beijing last Oct. 18 to 21 and met with Xi and Li wherein they discussed ways to improve ties and cooperation amid regional issues, specifically the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The two governments reiterated their agreement to resolve the disputes through bilateral discussions.

Meanwhile, the plan of Duterte to issue an executive order declaring part of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal a marine sanctuary is a step “forward” to urge China to stop reclamation efforts, but it would stop Filipino fishermen from operating in the area and give up what is rightfully for the Philippines, the president of a Manila based think tank said yesterday.