DFA chief visits China

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano begins today a four-day official visit to China upon invitation from Beijing’s foreign ministry.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi invited Cayetano so they could “exchange views on China-Philippines relations, China-ASEAN relations and international and regional issues of common interest,” ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not provided details of the visit.

China and the Philippines, Geng said, are neighbors enjoying traditional friendship.

Geng noted that since the “turnaround” in bilateral relations last year “we have further deepened political mutual trust, carried out practical cooperation in various aspects, restarted maritime dialogue and cooperation, and moved forward the bilateral relationship, which have created tangible benefits to people from the two sides and promoted regional peace and stability.”

Philippines-China relations have warmed since Duterte’s assuming the presidency in June last year. The President has assured his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that the South China Sea dispute would not be highlighted under his administration.

“It is believed that the visit by Foreign Secretary Cayetano will bolster political mutual trust between the two countries, deepen bilateral cooperation in different fields, promote communication and coordination in regional cooperation and advance the strategic cooperative relationship for peace and development,” Geng stressed.