THE Philippines and China are expected to sign at least five bilateral agreements later this week, when President Rodrigo Duterte travels to Beijing to attend the second Belt and Road Forum.
In a press conference on Monday, April 22, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre said the bilateral deals will be in the fields of education, anti-corruption, official development assistance, and drug rehabilitation.
Montealegre added that the two countries may also sign infrastructure agreements.
"It (signing of bilateral agreements) is in the final stages of consultation. We're looking at five probably," he said.
Duterte is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum, which will take place on April 25 to 27 in Beijing.
The Foreign Affairs official said Duterte and Xi may touch on several issues concerning "defense, security, economics, and development."
Also, the two leaders would likely talk about "regional and international issues of importance," Montealegre said.
Meantime, Montealegre said Duterte and Li would talk about "more detailed" cooperation between the Philippines and China in the areas of infrastructure, trade and investment, and people-to-people relations.
Duterte would also raise the need for regional cooperation during his meeting with the Chinese Premier, Montealegre added.
Montealegre, however, could not confirm whether the President would bring up the Philippines' concerns over the contested South China Sea.
But he guaranteed that Duterte would make sure that the Phlippines' interests when it comes to sea disputes would not be put at stake.
"I cannot speculate on the specific agenda items that they will be discussing," he said.
"As far as the South China Sea [and] the Spratly, the President has always been saying that we will stick to the Philippine interests and positions. But as I said, I cannot preempt to what specific discussion," he added.
The Philippine government has filed several diplomatic protests against Beijing, after Chinese vessels were reported near Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island.
Despite China's continuing militarization of the South China Sea, Duterte has refused to invoke the July 2016 arbitral ruling which favored the Philippines and invalidated Beijing's extensive claims to the busy waterway.
Duterte will take part in the Leaders' Roundtable on April 27 as part of the Belt and Road Forum, Montealegre said.
Some 40 world leaders, including United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Legarde, are expected to participate in the forum. (SunStar Philippines)