Kalayaan Grounds, Malacañang
November 20, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte received President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China in a welcome ceremony held at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.

President Xi is in the country for his first State Visit to the Philippines.

At the start of the official rites, the two leaders inspected the Honor Guards, followed by the introduction of their country’s respective delegations. Thereafter, President Xi proceeded to Malacañan Palace with President Duterte and signed the guestbook, followed by a photo opportunity of the two leaders.

The Chief Executive and the Chinese President conducted an expanded bilateral meeting and witnessed the exchange of 29 agreements that focus on improving education, infrastructure projects, oil and gas development, cultural cooperation, emergency humanitarian cash assistance, agricultural cooperatives, among others.

This day marked President Xi Jinping’s first day out of his two-day visit in the Philippines. He is expected to receive Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House of Representatives (HOR) Speaker and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and other senior officials from the national government of the Philippines in a meeting on the following day.

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