MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and China on Friday, October 21, agreed to jointly investigate “special” drug-related cases as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte caps a landmark trip to Beijing.

“To further strengthen the efforts to fight against illicit drugs, both sides agree to establish operation mechanism for joint investigation on special cases and intelligence collection purposes,” the Philippines and China said in a joint statement Friday.

“The Philippines thanks China for its offer of assistance in personnel training and donation of drug detection, seizure, and testing equipment to aid in the fight against illicit drugs,” the two countries added.

China said it “understands and supports Philippine government’s efforts in fighting against illicit drugs.”

“Realizing that the problem of illicit drugs poses severe threats to the health, safety, and welfare of the peoples of both countries, both sides agree to enhance exchange of intelligence, know-how, and technology sharing on fighting against drug crimes, preventive education, and rehabilitation facilities,” the Philippines and China said. (READ: DOCUMENT: PH-China joint statement during Duterte state visit)

This comes as Duterte’s trip to Beijing, in the words of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, “signifies the fully recovery” of Philippine-China ties.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua earlier said that a second Chinese businessman is donating a huge drug rehabilitation center in the Philippines.

The new rehabilitation center, funded by an anonymous Chinese businessman, is 12 hectares big.

China has vowed to assist the Philippines in its war on drugs after Duterte blamed Chinese syndicates for the spread of illegal drugs in the Philippines. – Rappler.com