Duterte back in PH after ‘candid’ exchange of views with Xi

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrives at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on September 1, 2019 following his successful official visit to the People’s Republic of China. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte returned to Manila on Sunday after holding “productive” and “candid” bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China on several issues including the disputed West Philippine Sea.

An arrival statement from Malacañang enumerated the accomplishments made during Duterte’s fifth visit to Beijing, which kicked off with a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the Diaoyutai Guest House on August 29.

Duterte and Xi reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and China and renewed their commitment to further enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation.

As promised, Duterte invoked the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling rejecting China’s claim on the West Philippine Sea. However, Xi was firm in his stand that China will not recognize it.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed that Xi will not recognize the arbitral ruling but will avoid “provocative acts” in the contested waters.

Panelo also bared that Duterte will no longer raise the arbitral ruling in future meetings with the Chinese leader.

He said despite contrasting views on the arbitral ruling, two leaders understood that this should not hinder their cooperation in areas of economy and security.

However, the two leaders agreed that the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea should be completed immediately.

“Presidents Duterte and Xi had candid and open exchange of views on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, including the Arbitral Award which the Philippines won in 2016,” the statement read.

“Acknowledging the importance of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to regional peace and stability, the two Presidents expressed determination to fast track negotiations for the conclusion of an effective and substantive COC at the soonest possible time,” it added.

Duterte expressed the Philippines’ commitment to enhance Asean’s engagement with China in its stewardship of the Asean-China Dialogue.

During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Duterte also reiterated the Philippines’ resolve to expand economic ties and people-to-people exchanges with China and stressed the need to complete infrastructure projects with China with favorable financing arrangements.

Li, for his part, assured that China is ready to step up cooperation in support of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Aside from meeting top Chinese leaders, Duterte also met with Chinese and Filipino investors, including key business leaders in the Philippine construction industry, during the Philippines-China Business Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry.

There were six agreements signed during the visit, covering cooperation in the areas of education, science and technology, finance, and customs, among others.

To cap his visit to China, Duterte graced in Beijing the opening ceremony of the 2019 FIBA Basketball Word Cup and travelled to Guangdong to watch the game of Gilas Pilipinas against Italy at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center in Foshan City.

Duterte came as a special guest of President Xi, the only foreign leader invited to the event.

He was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and the top political leaders of the province in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

Panelo said although Gilas absorbed a lopsided 108-62 defeat at the hands of the “taller, bigger, shiftier and sharp-shooting” Italian opponents, the Philippines displayed “flashes of brilliance” that is worthy of praise.

“It’s not always winning that counts; it is how the game is played. Our Filipino players honorably competed with grit and passion today, and for that they deserve our admiration,” Panelo said.