President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday met with Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua during the latter’s courtesy call in Malacañang to discuss the implementation of key infrastructure projects funded by China.
Hu’s visit meant warmer relations between the two countries, Duterte said during the meeting.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Hu’s visit to the country included discussions on trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism.
Since he took office in 2016, President Duterte had sought friendlier ties with China, who has become the Philippines’ major trading partner, the biggest source of imports and exports and the second largest source of tourists.
The members of the Chinese delegation present during the courtesy call were Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, State Council Deputy Secretary-General Gao Yu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Zheng Zeguang, Ministry of Commerce Vice Minister and China International Trade Deputy Representative Wang Shouwen.
Also present were China International Development Cooperation Agency Vice Chairman Deng Boqing, Department of Asian Affairs Director General Peng Gang, Secretary to the Vice Premier Li Jialu and Department of Asian Affairs Director Lu Qinhong.
Filipino officials present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre, DFA executive director Josel Ignacio, DFA acting director Ira Micheline Valdez, DOF chief of staff Anita Linda Aquino and Senator Christopher Lawrence Go.