Duterte takes private jet to Beijing

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has taken anew a private jet for his four-day trip to Beijing, doing away with chartered flights he had preferred at the start of his presidency.

He was expected to arrive last night in China, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and watch the Gilas Pilipinas team play in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Duterte started taking private jets in his foreign trips when he flew to Singapore in April 2018 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Summit.

Since then, the President seemed to never have taken chartered flights.

From Beijing, where he is expected to have bilateral talks with Xi as well as with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, the President shall proceed to Guangzhou where he will cheer on the Gilas Pilipinas team in their first game against Italy.

Duterte earlier said that the Philippine team stands to lose against Italy and that China was the country to “bet on.”

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan will reportedly escort the President while he watches Gilas Pilipinas battle Italy, which has a number of NBA players.

The President will also address at least 300 Chinese business leaders while in Beijing.