China Railway keen on Phl

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has met with officials of the China Railway Group Limited in Malacañang and other Chinese business groups in Malacañang on Monday following the misunderstanding caused by the statements of Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay on the Philippine claim over South China Sea that caused the cancellation of a high-delegation visit last week.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte met with Zhang Zongyan, president of the China Railway Group Limited to outline possible projects related to the train systems in the country.

 “It was basically a brief meeting reiterating the commitment of their company to partner with the Philippines regarding key infra projects, including the possible railway projects, consistent with the agreements he made during the State Visit to China,” Abella said. 

“He also gave a profile of the company and pointed out possible areas of cooperation in building, planning, and maintenance in railways, including especially Mindanao,” Abella said.

Duterte paid a state visit to China last October, which renewed the country’s bilateral relations with Beijing amid the conflict in the South China Sea.

The Department of Finance is negotiating with Chinese officials regarding the $9 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA), as well as commercial loans.

Duterte’s meetings with Chinese business leaders also came on the heels of his assurance he would continue to establish better bilateral relations with China and temporary shelf the arbitration ruling on the South China Sea.