PHL, China Sign Pact on Grant for Anti-Illegal Drugs and Law Enforcement Cooperation

Beijing — The Philippines and China signed here Thursday an agreement that would provide Manila a RMB100 million (almost USD15 million) grant from Beijing to aid the Duterte administration in implementing projects to strengthen its war on drugs and in the law enforcement security cooperation between the two countries.

The pact, signed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, was among the agreements forged by the two countries during President Rodrigo Duterte’s four-day state visit to China.

Dominguez and Gao signed the agreement in the presence of President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation states that “in accordance with the needs of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Government of the People’s Republic of China agrees to provide the Government of the Philippines with a grant of RMB Yuan 100,000,000 (one hundred million Renminbi Yuan), which shall be disbursed to implement the projects for anti-illegal drugs and law enforcement security cooperation”.

It further states that the specific projects covered by the grant “shall be stipulated in the agreements to be signed subsequently between the two sides”.

The pact shall be in force until the day the two governments have fulfilled their obligations under the grant.

China has expressed support for President Duterte’s campaign against the scourge of illegal drugs.

In an earlier press briefing held in Manila, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “Under the leadership of President Duterte, the new Philippine government enacted policies that prioritize combating drug-related crimes. China understands and supports that.” (PNA)
CVL/PR/JSV/EDS