Why did Duterte meet with the China Communications Construction Co. Officials?
During the meeting, Duterte said, “First of all, I’d like to welcome your delegation and we are happy that you had the time to pass by to talk about anything and everything,”.
“So, we are hopeful that our talks now will produce results for the good of your country and for our welfare also, as you are trying to help us,” the President said. President Duterte extended as well his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping “for going out of his way to help us.”
“And I must say that we need the --- really the help of China in our infrastructure. Nothing seems to be moving here at a fast rate because of traffic and of course, the lack of viable infrastructure,” the President stressed.
CCCC is a transportation infrastructure group in China that is principally engaged in the design and construction of transportation infrastructure, dredging, and heavy machinery manufacturing business. During the meeting, CCCC President Chen Fenjian expressed gratitude to the Philippine government for allowing it to bridge better connections between the two nations.
He particularly noted that President Duterte’s state visit to Beijing in October last year brought forth promising infrastructure agreements between the Philippines and China. President Duterte, for his part, reiterated his administration’s continued commitment to open new economic alliances with its Asian neighbors.
He vowed to keep pushing for stronger policies that would make it easier for foreign businesses and investments to thrive in the country. The President also expressed hope that the Philippines’ stronger relationship with China would pave a way to greatly improve the lives of Filipinos, as well as to promote peace in the region and in the world.
In addition, the Chief Executive asked CCCC to extend his gratitude to the Chinese government for providing its assistance to the country during the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao.
Also present during the courtesy call were Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vivencio Dizon.
Following his meeting with the Chinese officials, President Duterte also met with Admiral Harry Harris, Jr., Commander of United States Pacific Command.
Harris was accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, US Embassy Defense Attaché Col. Ernest Lee, and US Pacific Command Major General Jeffrey Kruse. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Spokesperson Abella, and Secretary Cayetano were also present during the meeting.
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