The Philippines government on August 30 hailed China's commitment to enhancing trade relations and to buy more agricultural and agri-based products from the Philippines.

Philippine Department of Trade and Industry said in a statement that during the bilateral meeting between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on August 29, President Xi said that China will buy more goods especially agriculture and agri-based products from the Philippines.

Both leaders also agreed to advance cooperation in many fields, including trade and investments, infrastructure and finance, education, agriculture, science and technology, security, and to work against transnational crimes and illegal drugs, according to the statement.

Speaking highly of China's commitment as "encouraging words," the Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said in the statement that Philippine exports to China have been growing at an average of 10 percent in the last three years.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, China is now the Philippines' top trading partner, the largest source of imports and the fourth largest export market.

Lopez also said Chinese companies are also encouraged to invest in the Philippines to help increase jobs and production capacities that will enable the Philippines to enhance its exports capabilities.

"The momentum of Chinese investments has been very positive as foreign direct investments (FDI) from China grew six times more in the last three years," he said.

Lopez said more big-ticket projects are on the way both in heavy industries like petrochemical, iron and steel, and light industries like textile, construction, technology-based services, agri-business, energy, power, transportation, infrastructure, and tourism, with special focus on manufacturing.

On tourism and people-to-people exchange, Lopez said Chinese leaders are also optimistic in seeing more Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines.

From nearly 500,000 tourists from China in the Philippines in 2015, the number has increased to more than 1.2 million in 2018.  

The Philippine president is on a visit to China from August 28 to September 1, which is his fifth visit to China since he assumed the presidency in 2016.

"(Duterte's) visit here in China is a reflection of continued good faith and warm friendship between the two presidents, and undoubtedly, a testament to the enhanced and enduring bond between the Philippines and China," said the Philippine presidential spokesperson, Salvador Panelo.