Beijing International Airport, China
April 24, 2019

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived in Beijing, People’s Republic of China ahead of the formal opening of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation from April 25-27, 2019.

Upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Duterte, along with 39 other world leaders and heads of international organizations, shall convene during the three-day forum that aims to promote global connectivity through cooperation, economic growth, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

One of the highlights of President Duterte’s participation in the forum is his attendance to the Leaders’ Roundtable where he shall serve as one of the lead speakers. He is expected to talk about the Philippines’ concrete plans in boosting the economy, the government’s economic challenges, and the administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.

Also, the Philippine Chief Executive shall hold separate bilateral meetings with President Xi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to discuss several matters regarding defense and security, economics and development, as well as regional and international issues of mutual importance.

This is the second time that President Duterte shall participate in the Belt and Road Forum. His first attendance to the said event was in 2017.