(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he will visit China and Russia to open up the Philippines for Chinese and Russian investors.
In a speech during the oath taking rites of new officials of the Malacanan Press Corps on Monday, President Duterte said he had discussions with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
But the President clarified that he would not break ties with the United States but will start stronger trade alliances with China and Russia.
–Russia already awaiting Duterte’s visit —
“I had a good talk with the prime minister, Medvedev. He is there awaiting for my visit. After China I will go to Japan and I’ll go to Russia,” he told reporters.
Among the sectors that would be opened for Russian and Chinese investors include telecommunications and commercial aviation, he said.
“May kapital kayo? You want to put up an airline here? Shipping here? You want land? Sixty years plus another 60 years. That is like a lifetime, more than. After 60 years, di mo na kailangan ‘yan factory mo,” he said.
–Duterte to visit Vietnam —
President Duterte is set to be in Vietnam for his official visit there this week.
This will be the first visit of Duterte in Vietnam since he assumed the presidency last June 30.
With regard to China, the President reiterated that he would ask Chinese leaders to at least allow Filipino fishermen to fish in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.
“It is ours. If we are not really ready to talk about it, a hard sell, then I’ll just say that ‘allow my countrymen to fish there because it means food security,'” he said.
–Welcome investments from China and Russia —
Duterte also reiterated he would welcome China and Russia as an answer to investors backing out of commerce in the country.
“Mag-withdraw kayo ng investments? Go ahead. Be my guest. I will tell my countrymen I am responsible. Bear with me but I will make the correction right away. I will open up doon sa kabilang side of the ideological barrier—China, Russia, come,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Chief Executive blamed US for the fall of Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
“For example like America, they invaded Iraq kaya galit talaga iyong Muslim e. On the pretext that there were weapons of mass destruction, sinira nila ang Iraq, pinatay nila si Saddam, ngayon ang Iraq e ‘di wala na. It’s a failed country, nobody is in control,” Duterte said.
“They undermined Libya, bagsak. Ngayon ito ngayon ang Syria. Ang Syria tumagal kasi bina-backup-an ng Russia pati Intsik. Kaya nahirapan sila diyan ngayon, maraming actor, maraming players. Tayo dito, it has the tail-end of the world’s history. Kasali tayo dito because iyong Syrian pati ang Libyan nadesperado iyong mga bata nasira iyong bayan nila, nagkaisa and they formed ISIS.” (with a report from Rex Felix Salvador, Eagle News Service)
