(Eagle News)–The Palace on Sunday, April 28, described as ”highly successful” President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to China, where he attended the second Belt and Road forum.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President witnessed the signing of 19 business deals, which included those related to internet connectivity and agriculture, worth US$12.165 billion all in all.
He said these would generate over 21000 jobs for Filipinos.
At the Leaders’ Roundtable Sessions held at Yanqi Lake International Conference Center, Duterte noted “the value of nations, especially in Asia, working together with a shared goal of inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth and prosperity.”
Panelo said Duterte “welcomed economic investments that will help our country improve its economic productivity in the area of agriculture as well as in our country’s massive infrastructure development program while ensuring that it will be clean and green.”
He also advocated for the protection and welfare of overseas workers at the forum, acknowledging their roles in the development of their respective countries.
President Duterte pushed for development assistance based on reciprocal benefits, and not one that promotes dependence.
According to Panelo, Duterte also met with top Chinese leaders “where he affirmed our commitment to friendship and understanding with China,” and expressed the country’s “readiness to pursue more high-quality and good-impact projects.”
He said Duterte bagged a 1-billion renminbi grant during the bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he also told of his resolve to make the disputed South China Sea “a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.”
“He expounded the need for both countries to exercise restraint and caution to avoid actions that could complicate situations,” Panelo said.
According to Panelo, Duterte’s independent foreign policy is leading to “a new height of diplomatic relations with other nations, solely based on our national security and interest and towards a direction that will contribute to our national development, as well as the realisation of the aspiration of our people to attain economic progress and comfortable life for the greater masses of our countrymen.”
Duterte returned to the country early Sunday, April 28.
