WHILE attracting new investments will be the primary focus of his first state visit to China next week, there will be no letup in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, as he seeks to find out how the Chinese are dealing with the problem, the Foreign Affairs Department said Friday.
“As part of his official program, the President may visit some law enforcement and drug rehabilitation centers,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said in a Palace press briefing.
“I think the purpose is for the President to see for himself how China is also addressing this drug problem and also the fact that China is also assisting us as far as rehabilitation and law enforcement is concerned,” he added.
Duterte, in his Chinese drug triad matrix, earlier revealed that China is the source of all illegal drugs entering the Philippines.
First on the drug hierarchy were three Chinese drug lords, who supervise the illegal drug trade in the country.
Jose said that the Philippines and China are working to resolve issues on the drug problem of the country.
“I am sure there are ongoing efforts between our PDEA and their Chinese counterparts on how to address this very serious problem of ours,” he added.
In the same press briefing, Jose said President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to oversee the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding and agreements, as trade deals will top the agenda of the President’s trip to China.
Jose said there will also be many private contracts signed in areas such as energy, infrastructure and tourism.
In his trip, Duterte is expected to meet also with National People’s Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to agree on “various fields of cooperation between the two countries,” Jose said.
“A joint statement will likewise be issued which will stress areas of cooperation,” he added.
As part of his visit, Duterte will also meet with the Filipino community in China.
He may also visit some law enforcement and drug rehabilitation centers.
The President is also expected to deliver the keynote address at the Trade and Investment Forum attended by Filipino and Chinese investors.
“With this visit by President Duterte, the Philippines hopes to strengthen the bilateral ties between the Philippines and China through mutual respect and sincere cooperation for the prosperity and benefit of both countries and their peoples,” Jose added,
Jose said Duterte would try to avoid dealing with the country’s territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea during his state visit.
The Philippines will primarily focus on trade and investment area during the meeting, Jose said.
“The fact that we are bringing a lot of our business people to China, that’s a very clear signal of the direction that we are taking in terms of carrying out our bilateral relations with China now. We can now see by this the importance we are giving to our trade and commercial ties with China,” Jose said.