Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the telesummit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. | Photo from Presidential Photographers Division

Chinese President Xi Jinping virtually speaks with Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the telesummit. | Photo from Presidential Photographers Division 

MANILA, 11 April 2022 — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the need for the Philippines and China to work closely to address the impacts of climate change.
 
In a statement released by the Office of the President, the two heads of state met in a telesummit to take stock of and review ties over the last six years, and to identify more opportunities for positive engagements and cooperation.
 
During the one hour telephone conversation, President Duterte highlighted the importance of the Philippines and China working together to ensure that the voice of the developing world and archipelagic states, including the Philippines, will be heard in all relevant climate change fora.
 
President Duterte also underscored the value of practical and pragmatic partnerships that will help bolster climate change resilience and adaptation capabilities, including through infrastructure projects.
 
Expressing thanks for China’s strong support for the Philippine Government’s “Build, Build Build,” President Duterte said that “modern and climate resilient infrastructure that enhances physical integration is vital in spurring and sustaining economic growth.
 
Last week, during the inauguration of the iconic Binondo-Intramuros bridge, President Duterte described the Philippine-China partnership in enhancing key infrastructure projects as nations “working together towards a greener, more sustainable and climate change resilient infrastructure.”
 
President Duterte looked forward to China’s continued partnership in this area underscoring his hope that “present and future generations will enjoy enhanced mobility and connectivity through innovative physical integration.”
 
President Xi, on the other hand, expressed full support for ongoing and pipeline infrastructure projects, including the Samal Island bridge project during the telesummit.
 
President Duterte and President Xi considered the elevation of Philippine-China bilateral relations into a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation as a “milestone achievement that demonstrated the commitment of the Philippines and China to continue building on the gains of the previous years towards the future.”
 
The leaders’ telesummit was preceded last week by the courtesy call of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on newly-appointed Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje. Secretary Borje and Ambassador Huang reaffirmed the importance of practical and pragmatic projects to advance climate change actions, including through cooperation in innovative infrastructure and in renewable energy.