MANILA – Preparations are under way for the first-ever state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines next month.
“China would work with the Philippine team to make comprehensive preparations and planning for the upcoming high-level exchanges between the countries,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said in a statement.
The Philippine team has assured of a “safe, smooth and completely successful visit,” said Zhao.
Zhao conveyed Xi’s cordial greetings and best wishes to Duterte and briefed the latter on latest developments and plans on Philippines-China relations and practical cooperation.
Duterte also extended his warm greetings to Xi, who he invited to visit the Philippines when he was in Beijing in October 2016.
Zhao said Xi’s first-ever state visit to the Philippines “would surely be remembered as another milestone in the Philippines-China relations.”
Present at Zhao’s meeting with Duterte were Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade, Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, and Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Vivencio B. Dizon. (PNA)
