(VOVworld) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Beijing Tuesday to begin a four-day visit to China.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Nguồn: EPA/VNA)

Choosing China for his first visit outside of ASEAN since taking office in June, Duterte is making the visit against a backdrop of deteriorating China-Philippines ties following an East Sea arbitration case initiated by his predecessor Benigno Aquino III. According to China's Foreign Ministry, Mr. Duterte will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and top legislator Zhang Dejiang. Foreign Minister Wang Yi called this an historic visit which creates an opportunity to put relations between China and the Philippines on a more positive footing.