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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
MANILA, April 11 (APD) – The Presidential Communications Operations Office reported six agreements were signed right after the bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shortly before dinner time Tuesday in Hainan, China.
President Duterte, in his opening remarks, said he is happy that the Philippines and China have maintained its bilateral relations and promoted it to a higher level of friendship.
He also expressed satisfaction over President Xi’s re-election as President of the People’s Republic of China.
During his remarks, President Duterte assured President Xi of the Philippines’ full cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes and terrorism.
“We welcome China’s hosting of the 6th Annual Defense and Security Talks to discuss better cooperation,” Mr. Duterte was quoted saying.
He added the two countries “can do more” to further boost its military and defense cooperation under the framework of the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.
He likewise expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its assistance to the Philippines during the Marawi seige.
Both Presidents Xi and Duterte witnessed the signing of six bilateral agreements between the two countries including the “Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Philippines and China.”
The agreement was signed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Minister of Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
Finance Secretary Dominguez and Minister Zhong also signed the Exchange of Letters on the Phase III of the technical cooperation project for the Filipino-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology.
The Exchange of Letters for the Pre-Feasibility Study of the Proposed Davao City Expressway Project was signed by Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar and Commerce Minister Zhong.
An “Exchange of Letters for Broadcasting Equipment to the Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Philippines” where Communicatoins Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar and Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong signed.
An agreement was forged under the Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment of Filipino Teachers of English Language in China signed by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.
The sixth agreement was signed by Finance Secretary Dominguez and Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao for the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement on the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.
President Duterte was accompanied during the bilateral meeting by Presidential Daughter and Davao City Mayor Zara Duterte-Carpio and other cabinet officials.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
