President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the Philippines' "separation" from long-standing ally the United States during a visit in Beijing as he rebalances his country's diplomacy towards China.
Duterte's comments came after he met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square on Thursday. The two also pledged to enhance trust and friendship and played down a maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
"I announce my separation from the United States, both in military but economics also," Duterte announced at a meeting of Filipino and Chinese businessmen in Beijing.
The two leaders strode side-by-side down a red carpet inspecting an honour guard with children cheering.
Duterte is in China on a four-day trip seen as confirming his tilt away from Washington and towards Beijing's sphere of influence - and its deep pockets.
Xi called the two countries "neighbours across the sea" with "no reason for hostility or confrontation", the official Xinhua news agency said.
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