MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit China this week, and will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. <br /> <br />Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang confirmed the Oct. 18-21 trip saying the two sides would have a “deep exchange of views” on how to improve relations, cooperation and regional issues, Reuters reported. <br /> <br />The visit comes at a time when Manila and Washington’s relations are strained after several outbursts from Duterte since taking office in June. <br /> <br />Accompanying Duterte to Beijing will be around 250 Philippines business executives, according to Reuters. <br /> <br />“China looks forward to increasing mutual trust between the two countries, deepening practical cooperation and continuing the tradition of friendship via the visit of President Duterte,” Geng said during a press briefing. <br /> <br />Duterte has been criticized by many world leaders and organizations, including the U.S., for his deadly war on drugs and support for extrajudicial killings. <br /> <br />The Philippines president also said that he will probably visit Russia after a trip to Japan later this month, Reuters reported.
