Manila, September 16th —Rodrigo Duterte, Chairman of the Philippine Democratic Party–Power of the Nation (PDP–Laban) and President of the Philippines, met here today at the President’s Office with Chen Miner, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee.

Chen conveyed President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to Duterte. He said, President Xi Jinping and Your Excellency met again not long ago, reaching important consensus on further developing China-Philippines relations. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Philippine side to implement the consensus of the two heads of state, strengthen exchanges between ruling parties, enhance political mutual trust and deepen cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to push China-Philippines relations for constant and new progress. Chongqing is willing to reinforce exchanges at sub-national level with the Philippines and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas through an international continental and maritime trade route, in a bid to make positive contributions to the development of China-Philippines relations.

Duterte asked Chen to convey his best wishes to President Xi Jinping. He said, at present, China-Philippines relations are the best period in history. The two countries have carried out cooperation in various areas comprehensively and enjoyed increasingly vibrant exchanges among political parties and exchanges at local level. He thanked the Chinese side for providing support and help for the social and economic development in the Philippines. He expressed the hope of continuing to learn the experience in state governance and administration from the CPC and the willingness to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Chongqing is welcome to carry out more exchanges and cooperation with the Philippines.

At the invitation of the PDP–Laban, Chen led a CPC delegation to visit the Philippines from September 13th to September 17th. During the visit, Chen also met with leaders of major political parties such as Alan Peter Cayetano, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aquilino Pimentel, President of the PDP–Laban and Sara Duterte-Carpio, Mayor of Davao City. Chen also attended the China (Chongqing)-Philippines Trade and Investment Forum with Carlos Dominguez III, Philippine Secretary of Finance.

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