Premier Li Keqiang met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippine capital, Manila, after attending a series of leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation, and starting his official visit to the country on Nov 15.
The Premier conveyed President Xi Jinping’s greetings to Duterte. He said that relations between China and the Philippines have long been established and friendly cooperation has always been their main focus.
Difficulties in bilateral ties have been overcome, Premier Li noted. Sticking to the good neighborly relationship is for the benefit of both sides, the willingness of most people, the development trend of the region and the cornerstone of common development, said the Premier.
He said China is ready to work with the Philippines to pursue the correct direction, consolidate friendship, increase cooperation and make up for lost time and opportunities to promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.
The Chinese and Philippine economies are highly complementary, which offer opportunity and vast market for each other, the Premier said.
“China is willing to align its development strategy with the Philippines and enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction and capacity. With long-term steady cooperation between China and the Philippines, confidence in the two markets and the international community can be ensured,” he said.
He asked for promoting cooperation in various fields such as investment, trade, information technology, agriculture, poverty alleviation and strategic security.
He said the two countries should continue their cultural exchanges and enhance collaboration under the multi-and regional-cooperation framework.
Premier Li congratulated the Philippines on successfully holding the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation, saying that China has always prioritized ASEAN in its neighboring diplomacy, and is committed to regional development and cooperation.
As the Philippines will serve as the coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations, China is willing to join hands with the Philippines in promoting the relations, thus injecting momentum into regional peace and stability, he said.
Duterte said that Premier Li’s visit is the first by a Chinese premier in a decade, which is of great significance.
Calling China a good friend and sincere partner of the Philippines, he thanked China for its support for infrastructure construction in the Philippines and maintaining its national stability.
Duterte welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in the Philippines. His country looks forward to learning from China’s development experience, and strengthening cooperation in various sectors such as transportation facilities, telecommunications and agriculture, to further promote the development of bilateral ties, he said.
The Philippines is ready to make full play of its role as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations to promote their ties to a new high, said Duterte.
Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
After the meeting, Premier Li and Duterte witnessed the signing of over 10 cooperation documents on infrastructure, industrial capacity, economic technologies, finance, people-to-people exchanges and other fields.
