China's Xi and Philippines' Duterte oversee signing ceremony

Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte oversaw the signing of a series of bilateral agreements between the two countries on Thursday. Delegates from China and the Philippines signed several agreements, including investment, trade, technology, infrastructure, financing, agricultural, maritime cooperation, at Beijing's Great Hall of the People after a bilateral meeting. Chinese vice foreign minister said on Thursday that China would restore Philippine agricultural exports to China and that Beijing would provide financing support for Philippine infrastructure. Duterte arrived in Beijing on Tuesday with at least 200 top business people to pave the way for what he calls a new commercial alliance. He said on Wednesday said the South China Sea arbitration case would "take the back seat" during talks, and that he would wait for the Chinese to bring up the dispute rather than doing so himself.