MANILA – Malacañang on Friday stated that the meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping has been scheduled on April 8 and will only be conducted virtually.
This comes after Duterte declared on Thursday that he will meet with Xi next week to discuss possible spillover of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine to Asia, particularly the Philippines and China.
“Kagabi po, si President Duterte mismo ang nag-announce na meron siyang meeting with China officials. At ang alam po natin ay online po ang meeting na ito sa darating po na April 8 (President Duterte announced last night that he will have a meeting with Chinese officials. What we know is the meeting on April 8 will be held online),” acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan said in a virtual presser.
According to Ablan, Xi instigated the scheduled talks with Duterte.
However, he was not privy to the possible issues that Duterte and Xi might discuss.
“Ang nag-initiate po nito ay ang gobyerno ng Tsina (The Chinese government initiated it. Insofar as we’re concerned, this meeting is still in the preparatory state. Kung ano ang magiging issues at matters na idi-discuss ng world leaders na ito ay malalaman natin (With regard to the issues and matters that the two world leaders might discuss, we will know) in the coming days,” Ablan said.
In a speech held in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, Duterte stated that if Russia resorts to nuclear weapons amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine, China “would not sit idly”.
Duterte stated that China’s possible interference would be a “serious problem,” since it may cause problems for the Philippines.
Earlier, Duterte said the Philippines would remain neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Malacañang, on the other hand, stated that Duterte may serve as a peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine if world leaders request his assistance, citing the Philippines’ “neutral stance and constitutionally-mandated foreign policy of peace with all nations.”
The Philippines is one of the nations that voted for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on the scale of humanitarian woes caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The UNGA resolution calls on all parties to provide full protection for civilians fleeing armed conflict and violence and ensure safe access for humanitarian aid among those who are in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
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