MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:16 p.m.) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed at the Ninoy Aquino Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on mid-day of Tuesday to kick-off his first state visit in the country.
Xi arrived at the airport at around 11:50 a.m. aboard Air China.
He was greeted by a welcoming body that includes Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, among others.
Xi, named by the Forbes magazine as this year’s most powerful man in the planet, is the second head of state to conduct a state visit to Duterte. This is also the first state visit of a Chinese president in 13 years.
Xi is expected to begin his two-day state visit in the country with a wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal Park late this afternoon followed by the anticipated expanded bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet members at the Malacañan.
The two leaders, however, met several times in international events including the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation World Leaders’ Summit in Papua New Guinea.
Duterte, known for his pivot to China as he veers away from longtime ally the United States, had a state visit to Beijing in October 2016. He also attended the Belt and Road Forum in China last May 2017 and went to the Boao Forum in April this year.
In 2016, Duterte sealed an estimated $24 billion investment and loan pledges from China.
Presidential spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the two leaders may talk about the loan and investment pledges during the state visit of Xi.
Xi last visited Manila in November 2015 when he attended the APEC under then-President Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino III.
The Chinese leader is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China and the chair of the Central Military Commission.