Duterte on China and Russia: "Alliance of commerce and trade"

[adroth]

See for yourself folks. Start at time index 42:02

https://youtu.be/imzVI3VvM0k

Duterte wasn't talking about military alliances when he was referring to China and Russia.

====

Contrast that with headlines like this

Philippines' Duterte wants to 'open alliances' with Russia, China
21 Hours Ago
Reuters
15 Hours Ago | 00:35

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/27/philippines-duterte-wants-to-open-alliances-with-russia-china.html

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would visit Russia and China this year to chart an independent foreign policy and "open alliances" with two powers with historic rivalries with the United States.

Duterte said the Philippines was at the "point of no return" in relations with former colonial ruler the United States, so he wanted to strengthen ties with others, and picked two global powers that have been sparring with Washington on the international political stage.

Last week, he last declared he would visit China, with which ties remain frosty over a South China Sea arbitration ruling won by the Philippines in July. He said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was expecting him in Moscow.

< Edited >

[MCentaur]

Interaksyon

Duterte to visit China Oct. 20 -21 - sources
By: Charmaine Deogracias, VERA FILES
September 29, 2016 3:16 PM


MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Beijing on Oct. 20 and 21, in what reliable diplomatic sources say is a move to reboot the country’s relations with China amid territorial issues in the South China Sea.

Duterte had earlier announced he is visiting China and Russia but did not give the exact dates.

A meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to set the direction for the revival of warm relations between the two countries, which ebbed following the arrest of Chinese fishermen in Scarborough Shoal off Zambales in April 2012.

The Philippine filing of a suit to nullify China’s nine-dash line territorial claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague further strained relations between the two countries. The Philippines won the case which China snubbed.

(...SNIPPED)

[miggye]

there is a high level AFP delegation already in Beijing since the other day. word is that this delegation will be attending the Oct. 1st Independence Day celebrations of the PROC.

funny thing is, though, the delegation actually spent several days in Taipei in meetings before pushing off to Beijing......

[Ayoshi]

Russia ready to assist PHL —envoy | GMA news - October 21, 2016

Russia is ready to give any kind of assistance to the Philippines, as the two countries begin to know each other more and more, Russian envoy to Manila said Friday.

"Please formulate your wish list.  What kind of assistance do you expect from Russia and we will be ready to sit down with you and discuss what can and should be done," Ambassador Igor Khovaev told GMA News' Rida Reyes in an exclusive interview.

< snipped >

Moreover, he said that Russia supports Duterte's fight against illegal drugs and criminality.

Unlike some countries in the West and the international community, Russia respects the domestic affairs of the Philippines.

"We don't interfere with the domestic affairs of a sovereign state. It is a fundamental principle of our foreign policy," he said.

Likewise, he said that Russia is preparing for the visit of President Duterte. —LBG, GMA News

[adroth]

Russia not seeking military alliance with PHL — envoy
Published November 29, 2016 12:54pm
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev on Tuesday assured that his country is ready to be a reliable friend and partner of the Philippines but noted that it is not seeking to establish a military alliance with any country within the Asia-Pacific region.

"We are open for cooperation with all responsible members of the international community, including the Philippines," Khovaev said in a forum in Quezon City on Tuesday.

"[But] we are not talking about alliance.... We are talking about partnership and friendship. Russia has no military alliance in the Asia-Pacific region. We are not going to create any military alliance," he added.

< Edited >

However, he said Russia does not want to meddle with the issue on the disputed territories in the South China Sea.

"Russia does not take sides in [South] China Sea [issue]. It must be solved in compliance with international law," Khovaev said.

< Edited >

- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/590567/news/nation/russia-not-seeking-military-alliance-with-phl-envoy#sthash.9lrE0VTl.dpuf

[adroth]

Commerce and trade

Russia to buy $2.5B in PH agri produce — DTI chief
By: DJ Yap - Reporter / @deejayapINQPhilipppine Daily Inquirer / 08:40 AM November 21, 2016

LIMA, Peru — Russia committed to buy up to a staggering $2.5 billion worth of Philippine fruit, grains or vegetables during last Saturday’s bilateral discussions between President Duterte and Vladimir Putin, officials said on Sunday.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Russian side agreed “immediately” to a proposal for the importation of Philippine fruit and other agricultural products in the next 12 months.

“Their immediate estimate is $2.5 billion. That’s a number they [Russian side] quoted,” the Cabinet official told Filipino journalists covering the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders Meeting in Peru’s capital.

This dwarfs the $46 million worth of exports the Philippines currently ships to Russia every year, he said.

< Edited >

Read more: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/149893/russia-buy-2-5b-ph-agri-produce#ixzz4VFSSG5nZ
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