Biyahe na si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Beijing, China para makipagpulong kay Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping at posibleng manonood ng laro ng Gilas Pilipinas laban sa Italy sa FIBA World Cup sa Guangdong Province.
Batay sa abiso ni Sen. Bong Go, bandang 6:30 ngayong gabi lumipad ang eroplanong sinakyan ni Pangulong Duterte at lalapag ito sa Beijing bago alas 10 ng gabi.
Bukas, Agosto 29 ang nakatakdang bilateral meeting ni Pangulong Duterte kay Chinese Pres. Xi kung saan ilang mga kasunduan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China ang inaasahang malalagdaan.
Inaabangan dito ang sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na igigiit ang arbitral ruling sa West Philippine Sea na pabor sa Pilipinas.
“The highlight of the President’s visit will be his bilateral meeting with President Xi where they would discuss the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the Philippines and China, as well as the shared goals of the two countries.”
“As country coordinator of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, PRRD intends to discuss with President Xi the crafting of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea and how they can expedite its conclusion. The President believes that the absence of the COC that is to be observed by affected countries has caused numerous conflicts in the subject waters that could have been prevented by a document that will regulate their actions. A good example of such conflict would be the maritime incident which transpired a few months ago in Recto Bank.”
“The two leaders would likewise exchange views on issues important to their nations’ interests, such as fast-tracking the existing big-ticket projects of China in the Philippines, as well as improving our trade relations.”
Samantala, kaugnay sa FIBA World Cup, hinamon naman ng Malacañang ang koponan ng Pilipinas na patunayang mali si Pangulong Duterte sa pahayag nito noon na matatalo sila sa Italy na matatangkad.
Inihayag ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo na ang tinuran ni Pangulong Duterte ay hamon sa Gilas lalo manonood pa ito sa kanilang laban para magbigay ng suporta at inspirasyon. Kung si Sec. Panelo raw ang tatanungin, mananalo ang Gilas sa Italy.
Makakasama ng pangulo sa kanyang biyahe sa China ang official delegation na binubuo nina Foreign Affairs Sec. Teddyboy Locsin Jr., Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea, Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana at Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez.
Kasama rin sina DOST Sec. Fortunato Dela Pena, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero De Vera III, at Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero.
