Philippines' Duterte looking forward to next China trip

[TaiShang]

Philippines' Duterte looking forward to next China trip
(Xinhua) 19:46, March 24, 2017

MANILA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday that he is looking forward to his second trip to China this May to attend the "One Belt, One Road" summit organized by the Chinese government.

"I'm going there. I was invited by the president himself... It's a very ambitious project of China," he said in a speech to a meeting of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) in Manila.

"I'd like to thank China again. Our exports of banana have doubled and the pineapple increased by 50 percent," Duterte said.

Duterte said China has also promised to "open the floodgates" for more Philippine products.

The president reiterated that he has no plan to enter into a military alliance with any country right now.

"But certainly I can choose friends who are kind to us and those who understand us and those who do not make imposition," he said, alluding to China.

@kecho , @terranMarine , @Jlaw , @AndrewJin

 

[Jlaw]

I remain cautiously optimistic. Dutuerte appear to be pro China but this could all change with his predecessor. Democrazy is unpredictable.

 

[TaiShang]

I remain cautiously optimistic. Dutuerte appear to be pro China but this could all change with his predecessor. Democrazy is unpredictable.

We now have a fruit import indicator to evaluate the health of bilateral relations.

If demoncrazy goes up, banana imports go down.