Duterte arrives in Beijing for Belt and Road Forum

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Beijing late on Saturday to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which kicks off on Sunday.

Ahead of his trip to China, the President said in an interview that the forum would serve as a platform to learn about experiences of economic development and exchange views on several matters.

Duterte said that he wanted to learn more about the economies of other nations and how they operate so as to boost their connectivity.

He said China's Belt and Road initiative fits with the Philippines' 2017-2022 development plan, especially in infrastructure development, and offers tremendous cooperation possibilities for both countries.

Twenty-nine heads of state and government will attend the two-day Belt and Road Forum, which is the highest-profile international conference under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. — Reuters