Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Manila’s international airport on Tuesday (November 17) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting.
Xi was greeted by an entourage of Filipino officials and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his wife, Regina Tong Ching-yi at the airport.
This is the Chinese leader’s first visit to the Philippines since he assumed office, and it is during a time of tension between Manila and Beijing due to disputes over the South China Sea.
Beijing is not aware of any plan to discuss the disputes at APEC, a senior Chinese diplomat said, and for its part, the Philippines said it would not raise the issue at the summit.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week the Philippines’ case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations and that it was up to the Philippines to heal the rift. For years, China has insisted that disputes with rival claimants be handled bilaterally. (Reuters)
