By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign five agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the second Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing this week.

“We are looking at some possible agreements in the areas of education, anti-corruption, official development assistance, as well as drug rehabilitation. But final — it’s in the final stages of consultations,” said Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Montealegre was uncertain if Duterte and Xi will sign a bilateral agreement on infrastructure funding.

“I think there will — they are in the final stages actually so I cannot pinpoint if there will be one. But there are ongoing consultations on various agreements that will be discussed also,” the DFA official said.

Duterte is set to fly to China on Wednesday for the China forum.