Tag Archives: XI JINPING
DUTERTE, XI WANT CODE OF CONDUCT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA FAST-TRACKED
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi have agreed that the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea should be completed immediately.
“Acknowledging the importance of a COC in the South China Sea to regional peace and stability, the two Presidents expressed determination to fast track negotiations for the conclusion of an effective and substantive COC at the soonest possible time,” said Panelo.
Duterte returned to Manila on Sunday from his fifth visit to Beijing after holding “productive” and “candid” bilateral talks with Xi in Beijing on several issues including the disputed West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Panelo said that “Presidents Duterte and Xi had candid ad open exchange of views on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, including the Arbitral Award which the Philippines won in 2016,” the statement read.
But Panelo said that Xi will not recognize the arbitral ruling but China will avoid “provocative acts” in the contested waters.
Panelo also bared that Duterte will no longer raise the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in future meetings with the Chinese leader. The PCA rejected China’s claim on the West Philippine Sea.
He said despite contrasting views on the arbitral ruling, the two leaders understood that this should not hinder their cooperation in areas of economy and security.
An arrival statement from Malacañang enumerated the accomplishments made during Duterte’s fifth visit to Beijing, which kicked off with a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the Diaoyutai Guest House on August 29.
Duterte and Xi reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and China and renewed their commitment to further enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation.
As promised, Duterte invoked the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling rejecting China’s claim on the West Philippine Sea. However, Xi was firm in his stand that China will not recognize it.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping witness the exchange of signed agreements between Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero and Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan following the successful bilateral meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on August 29, 2019. (Presidential Photo)
Duterte expressed the Philippines’ commitment to enhance Asean’s engagement with China in its stewardship of the Asean-China Dialogue.
During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Duterte also reiterated the Philippines’ resolve to expand economic ties and people-to-people exchanges with China and stressed the need to complete infrastructure projects with China with favorable financing arrangements.
Li, for his part, assured that China is ready to step up cooperation in support of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
Aside from meeting top Chinese leaders, Duterte also met with Chinese and Filipino investors, including key business leaders in the Philippine construction industry, during the Philippines-China Business Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry.
There were six agreements signed during the visit, covering cooperation in the areas of education, science and technology, finance, and customs, among others.
To cap his visit to China, Duterte graced in Beijing the opening ceremony of the 2019 FIBA Basketball Word Cup and travelled to Guangdong to watch the game of Gilas Pilipinas against Italy at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center in Foshan City.
Duterte came as a special guest of President Xi, the only foreign leader invited to the event.
He was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and the top political leaders of the province in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
Panelo said although Gilas absorbed a lopsided 108-62 defeat at the hands of the “taller, bigger, shiftier and sharp-shooting” Italian opponents, the Philippines displayed “flashes of brilliance” that is worthy of praise.
“It’s not always winning that counts; it is how the game is played. Our Filipino players honorably competed with grit and passion today, and for that they deserve our admiration,” Panelo said. (with PNA report)
DUTERTE snags 6 deals in 5th Beijing visit
President Rodrigo R. Duterte bagged six deals with China during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping here Thursday evening.
The documents signed between the Philippines and China include two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) – one on Higher Education Cooperation between the Commission on Higher Education and Ministry of Education of China, and on Science and Technology Cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Bureau of Customs also forged two agreements, including the Implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters with China’s General Administration of Customs and the Implementation Contract on Project of China-Aid Container Inspection Equipment with the Ministry of Commerce.
The Department of Finance signed the agreement on Exchange of Notes on Cooperation Procedure for the Availment and Utilization of Concessional Loan under a Renminbi-denominated Loan Facility with China International Development Cooperation Agency, and with the Export-Import Bank of China for the Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement of Project Management Consultancy of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project.
In his opening remarks, Duterte said the meeting with Xi reaffirmed the value of their relationship – both personal and official – built on trust, respect, and pursuit of mutual benefit for the two nations.
“Today, we can add fresh impetus — indeed a stronger momentum — to work together. That is, to determine steps needed along a common road that lead to the goal of a strong and special relationship that is mutually respectful, collectively beneficial and decidedly reciprocal,” Duterte said.
He added that there have been challenges to the ties between the Philippines and China, but the two parties pursue their commitments through comprehensive strategic cooperation.
“With channels for dialogue fully opened, agreements signed and projects underway, there is a clear path of partnership and convergence,” he said. (PNA)
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Xi rejects Philippines’ arbitral win in South China Sea
Chinese President Xi Jinping rejected the Philippines’ legal victory against China on the South China Sea after President Rodrigo Duterte raised the arbitral ruling during their bilateral meeting in Beijing Thursday.
“President Duterte was also steadfast in raising with President Xi concerns central to the Philippines’ claim in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which include the ruling held by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. He said that the arbitral award is final, binding and not subject to appeal,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“In response, President Xi reiterated his government’s position of not recognizing the arbitral ruling as well as not budging from its position,” he added.
The Philippines in 2016 won a case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.
However, China didn’t recognize the ruling and has instead ramped up its militarization efforts in the vital waterway.
“Both President Duterte and President Xi agreed that while their variant positions will have to remain, their differences however need not derail nor diminish the amity between the two countries. They shared the view that the contentious issue is not the sum total of the Philippines-Chinese bilateral relationship,” Panelo said.
Duterte-Xi meet ‘well’ despite different stands on WPS: Palace
JOINT GAS EXPLORATION
China may have rejected the Hague ruling, but it has agreed to the creation of a code of conduct in the South China Sea that would help resolve conflicts in the disputed waters.
“Chinese President Xi agreed with President Duterte that there is a need for the formulation of the Code of Conduct and it should be crafted within the last remaining years of PRRD,” Panelo said.
Duterte also raised the possible joint gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea, in which Xi responded that a “steering committee created for that purpose should prepare a substantive program on the matter,” he added.
Panelo also said China has recognized and confirmed its responsibility on the Recto Bank incident, where a Chinese vessel sank a Filipino fishing boat and abandoned its 22 crewmen.
“He [Duterte] expressed appreciation of China’s readiness to provide compensation to our fishermen who almost lost their lives,” he said.
Duterte said the bilateral meeting between the 2 nations went very well, Panelo added.
PH-CHINA DEALS
The Philippines and China also signed 6 agreements in education, science and technology and economy.
Below are the agreements signed by the Philippines and China:
- Exchange of Notes on Cooperation Procedure for the Availment and Utilization of Concessional Loan under a Renminbi-denominated Loan Facility (between the Philippine DFA and the China International Development Cooperation Agency)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education from 2019 to 2024 (between the Philippine CHED and Chinese Ministry of Education)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (between the Philippine DOST and Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology)
- Cooperative Arrangement on the Implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (between the Philippine DOF/BOC and the Chinese General Administration of Customs)
- Implementation Contract on Project of China-Aid Container Inspection Equipment (between the Philippine DOF/BOC and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce)
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Preferential Buyer’s Credit Loan Agreement of Project Management Consultancy of the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project (between the Philippine DOF and the Export-Import Bank of China). ABS/CBN
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