DOE officials invited to China to explore on energy cooperation

CHINA is inviting Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to head a delegation to Beijing for possible cooperation in the energy sector.

According to Cusi, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua sent him a letter to visit China on January 21 to 25.

"Your Chinese counterpart is looking forward to sharing experience of China's energy development and exploring the possibility of further cooperation with Your Honorable," Zhao said in the letter, which the DOE shared to the media.

The invitation covers local transportation and accommodation of Cusi and his four companions to China.

Zhao said Cusi's trip to China aims to "materialize the consensus reached" between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the former's state visit to China in October.

Cusi, in a statement, accepted the offer, explaining that his trip to China will "strictly in my official capacity as DOE Secretary."

He said the DOE is fortunate to have the opportunity to touch base with its counterparts in China's own ministry of energy.

"The purpose of the meeting is exclusively to improve our overall energy development efforts, gain knowledge from their best practices, and hopefully attract investments in our local energy projects," he said.

The Energy chief also said that the trip to China by the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which he will also lead, coincides with DOE official trip.

"In any case, it is a simple side trip for pleasantries, sharing and cultural exchanges," he said. (SDR/SunStar Philippines)