Duterte, Xi Jinping to have virtual meeting on April 8 —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte and China’s President Xi Jinping are set to meet virtually on April 8, Malacañang confirmed on Friday.

At the Palace briefing, acting deputy presidential spokesperson Kristian Ablan said it was the Chinese government who initiated the meeting.

“Kagabi po si President Rodrigo Duterte po ang nag-announce na meron siyang meeting with China officials at ang alam po natin na online po ang meeting na ito sa darating na April 8,” he said.

(Last night, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he has a meeting with Chinese officials and I think it is an online meeting on April 8.)

Asked if the presidents will tackle the issues in the West Philippine Sea and the war between Ukraine and Russia, Ablan said the meeting is still in its preparatory stage.

During the Joint National Task Force-Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict VII Meeting in Cebu, Duterte mentioned the meeting with Xi Jinping while discussing the Ukraine conflict.

“I’m scheduled to... When does he want to talk to me, [Senator Bong Go]? Eight, April 8. Gusto akong kausapin ni Xi Jinping. Magkaibigan man rin kami. So ako I— hindi ako sa nagkakampi-kampi ako. I just don’t want war to enter my country,” Duterte said in part vernacular.

(I’m scheduled to... When does he want to talk to me, [Senator Bong Go]? Eight, April 8. Xi Jinping wants to talk to me. We are friends. Not that I am taking sides. I just don’t want war to enter my country.)

The President was discussing the possible spillover of the Ukraine conflict.—AOL, GMA News