BEIJING, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo ended a three-day state visit to China Friday with pledges from Beijing to strengthen trade, investment, and security.
Five agreements were signed during the visit -- a mutual waiver of visas for government officials, a decision to carry out a joint seismic survey in the South China Sea, and promises of Chinese investment in fish processing facilities, energy development and a railway project, the Philippine Daily Enquirer reported Friday.
The fishery facilities are to be built on the Philippine island of Palawan, which faces the disputed Spratly Islands, claimed in part by both countries as well as by Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei. The move is seen as an attempt to diffuse tension over the disputed islands.
Arroyo's Communications Director Silvestre Afable said Arroyo and Chinese President Hu Jintao had agreed to increase trade volume between the two countries to $20 billion in the next five years.
Afable said the leaders had also discussed the possibility of military exchanges and training and intelligence sharing, especially concerning drug trafficking.
