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'Rainbow after the rain': China's Xi Jinping excited to visit Manila

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/19/20181119_jinping_duterte.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and People&#x27;s Republic of China President Xi Jinping pose for a photo following a successful bilateral meeting at the Boao State Guesthouse on April 10, 2018. Ace Morandante, Malacanang Photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said he is &quot;full of expectations&quot; and looks forward to &quot;in-depth discussions&quot; with President Duterte when he visits the Philippines this week. In a statement a day before his arrival, Xi said the main goal of his trip is to take the relationship between Beijing and Manila to a higher level &quot;under new circumstances.&quot; &quot;I am visiting this time mainly to have in-depth discussions with President Duterte on how to elevate our all-round cooperation under new circumstances and make overall plan for greater progress in our relationship toward a higher level,&quot; he said.Xi also cites the need for a deeper political mutual trust, enhanced practical cooperation, stronger people-to-people ties, and deeper cooperation with East Asian nations. Xi will be in the Philippines on Tuesday and Wednesday for a state visit, the first of a Chinese president in 13 years.Xi said the current relationship between China and the Philippines is seeing &quot;a rainbow after the rain,&quot; especially after Duterte took office in 2016, as he highlights the need to &quot;properly handle differences&quot; on the South China Sea dispute to make it &quot;a sea of peace.&quot; He also praised the &quot;unique geographical advantage&quot; of the Philippines that makes it a &quot;natural partner&quot; for China&#x27;s Belt and Road Initiative. &quot;We need to promote interactions between our political parties, parliaments, think tanks and at the local level,&quot; the Chinese President added. He said Duterte&#x27;s &quot;Build, Build, Build&quot; infrastructure push and China&#x27;s &quot;dream of great national renewal&quot; are shared aspirations that continues to forge a close bond between the two nations. &quot;In just a little more than two years, China has become the Philippines’ largest trading partner, largest export market and largest source of imports, and the second largest source of tourists,&quot; he said. Xi said China continues to support the Duterte administration&#x27;s war on drugs and its fight against terrorism, especially in the reconstruction efforts in Marawi.The Chinese President, invited by Duterte, will be in Manila for a 2-day visit starting Monday.

Ahead of his Manila visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he is "full of expectations as I am about to set foot on this beautiful land."

Ahead of his Manila visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he is "full of expectations as I am about to set foot on this beautiful land."