President Duterte is scheduled to meet China’s President Xi Jingping, Premier Li Kequiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Dejiang.

Speaking prior to the visit, Duterte said he plans to exchange views on improving bilateral ties, boosting trade and investment, and defining cooperation areas between the two countries.

China is Duterte’s first foreign destination outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since he came into office last June. Earlier he visited some ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.