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Duterte in China: Philippine president holds talks with Xi Duterte in China: Xi lauds 'milestone' Duterte visit
(about 7 hours later)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing as they look to boost trade and build closer ties. China's President Xi Jinping has welcomed his Filipino counterpart Rodrigo Duterte on a visit to Beijing which he described as a "milestone".
Mr Duterte arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a four-day visit. Mr Duterte arrived on Tuesday for a four-day trip expected to boost trade and troubled ties between the nations.
China and the Philippines are involved in a bitter territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea. Both sides were ready to move on from a bitter row over islands in the South China Sea, a top Chinese official said.
But the visit is seen as a pivot by the Philippines towards China and Russia and away from the US, its former colonial ruler and long-time ally. The visit also shows Mr Duterte's efforts to engage China as he moves away from the US, a long-time ally.
The dispute over the South China Seas did not take centre stage in the discussions.
"The two sides briefly mentioned the South China Sea. Both sides agreed that this issue is not the sum total of bilateral relations," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the meeting.
The two countries had agreed to seek "settlement through bilateral dialogue", he said.
Mr Duterte attended a welcome ceremony at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.Mr Duterte attended a welcome ceremony at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
He and President Xi will preside over several trade deals. He will also be meeting Premier Li Keqiang and National People's Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang, and attend a state banquet. He and President Xi later presided over the signing of 13 documents covering several trade deals as well as co-operation in cultural, tourism, anti-narcotics and maritime affairs.
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Thursday that the deals to be signed during the week would amount to $13.5bn.
Mr Duterte also met Premier Li Keqiang and National People's Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang and was due to attend a state banquet.
The relationship between China and the Philippines had worsened in recent years as both claim the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.The relationship between China and the Philippines had worsened in recent years as both claim the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The dispute reached a peak in July when an international tribunal sided with Manila and rejected Beijing's claims.The dispute reached a peak in July when an international tribunal sided with Manila and rejected Beijing's claims.
Though he maintained a blustery position towards Beijing during his presidential campaign, Mr Duterte sounded a note of reconciliation shortly after taking power. Although he maintained a blustery position towards Beijing during his presidential campaign, Mr Duterte sounded a note of reconciliation shortly after taking power.
At the same time, Mr Duterte has said he would end joint-military exercises with the US, admonished the US for criticising him over his brutal war against drugs that has been linked with thousands of extrajudicial killings, and said US President Barack Obama could "go to hell". At the same time, Mr Duterte has said he would end joint military exercises with the US, admonished the US for criticising him over his bloody war against drugs that has been linked with thousands of extrajudicial killings, and said US President Barack Obama could "go to hell".
In interviews with Chinese media ahead of his visit, he spoke of mending relations and the need for help from Beijing. He has said he does not intend to bring up the South China Sea issue during his visit. On Wednesday, Mr Duterte told a cheering crowd in Beijing: "I will not go to America any more. We will just be insulted there. So, time to say goodbye my friend."
"It is a defining moment of my presidency to open frontiers of friendship and cooperation," he told state broadcaster CCTV, adding that he wanted to "totally erase" the "dark spots" in their relationship. Mr Xi welcomed the renewed friendship with the Philippines.
In response China has hailed his trip as "a new starting-point" for bilateral relations. "I hope we can follow the wishes of the people and use this visit as an opportunity to push China-Philippines relations back on a friendly footing and fully improve things," he said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told reporters earlier this week: "We are ready and willing to reach out to the Philippine people for friendship and cooperation."
What does Duterte want from China?What does Duterte want from China?
Mango and pineapple salesMango and pineapple sales
China is the Philippines' second-largest trading partner, with the latter supplying mostly electronic products but looking to diversify with more food exports for instance. Earlier this year, angry Chinese netizens called for a boycott of Filipino mangoes amid tensions over South China Sea claims.China is the Philippines' second-largest trading partner, with the latter supplying mostly electronic products but looking to diversify with more food exports for instance. Earlier this year, angry Chinese netizens called for a boycott of Filipino mangoes amid tensions over South China Sea claims.
TouristsTourists
The tensions also prompted Beijing to issue a travel advisory against the Philippines in 2014. Since then Chinese holidaymakers have flocked to elsewhere in South East Asia; the hope is that they come back when Beijing lifts the advisory, which it has promised.The tensions also prompted Beijing to issue a travel advisory against the Philippines in 2014. Since then Chinese holidaymakers have flocked to elsewhere in South East Asia; the hope is that they come back when Beijing lifts the advisory, which it has promised.
Weapons and boatsWeapons and boats
In a pre-visit interview with Chinese cable station Phoenix TV , Mr Duterte complained of inadequate military support from the US and said he planned to buy Chinese weapons and boats as part of a military equipment overhaul. "If China does not help us in this endeavour, we will find it hard," he said.In a pre-visit interview with Chinese cable station Phoenix TV , Mr Duterte complained of inadequate military support from the US and said he planned to buy Chinese weapons and boats as part of a military equipment overhaul. "If China does not help us in this endeavour, we will find it hard," he said.
Silence and supportSilence and support
Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs has attracted accusations of human rights violations by the West including the United States. But Beijing - no stranger to such criticism - has kept quiet, and has even pledged to support Mr Duterte.Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs has attracted accusations of human rights violations by the West including the United States. But Beijing - no stranger to such criticism - has kept quiet, and has even pledged to support Mr Duterte.