BEIJING – Nakontento umano si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa naging bilateral meeting nila ni Chinese President Xi Jinping kagabi sa Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Ginawa ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo ang pahayag sa kabila ng pagbalewala ni Pres. Xi sa pag-invoke ni Pangulong Duterte sa ruling ng Pemanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) na pumapabor sa claims ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea.
Sinabi ni Sec. Panelo, “it went very well” daw ang tugon ni Pangulong Duterte nang tanungin nito sa resulta ng bilateral meeting.
“Describing the bilateral meeting between the two governments, the President said: “It went very well,” ani Sec. Panelo.
Ayon kay Sec. Panelo, sa kabila ng pagkakaiba ng paninindigan sa isyu ng South China Sea, nagkasundo umano sina Pangulong Duterte at Xi Jinping na ipagpatuloy ang magandang relasyon at kooperasyon ng Pilipinas at China sa ibang area.
Nagkasundo rin umano ang dalawang lider na “mutual trust and good faith” ang basehan ng ugnayan ng Pilipinas at China sa pagtrato ng South China Sea issue habang ipinagpapatuloy ang dialogue para sa payapang pagresoba ng hidwaan.
“Both leaders agreed to work together, on the basis of mutual trust and good faith, to manage the South China Sea issue, and to continue to dialogue peacefully in resolving the conflict. President Duterte and President Xi agreed on the importance of self-restraint and respect for freedom of navigation in – and overflight above – the South China Sea.”
Matapos ang bilateral meeting, sinaksihan din nina Pangulong Duterte at Pres. Xi ang paglagda ng ilang kasunduan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China.
Kabilang dito ang mga sumusunod na agreements:
- 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); and
- 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).
