MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he will visit China as a result of Beijing's repeated invitations to him.

He said his visit to China aims to work on a possible alliance between the two countries.

"Let us go for alliances that would contribute to health, to education kung aabot pa tayo ng... if there is still a world waiting for our children," he said.

Duterte said this is to ensure the safety and security of our country.

Diplomatic sources earlier said Duterte will visit Beijing on October 20 and 21, in a possible move to reboot the Philippines' relations with China amid the maritime row between the two sides over the South China Sea.

Duterte called the the possibility of so-called "World War 3" as "kalokohan" (foolishness).

"I do not mean to cancel or abrogate military alliances. But tanungin ko kayo, do you still… do you, do you really think we need it? If there is a war, magka-upakan, do you think we really need America? And do we need China and Russia for that matter? Or do we need somebody?" he asked his audience.

"Pag nagbirahan 'yan lahat at nabitawan 'yang ICBMs [Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles] pati 'yung mga Poseidon, lahat na, there will be no more American aid to talk of," he said. "Pag magdating iyan, wala tayong kailangan kundi yung pari. Kung gusto mong mag-'mi ultimo adios.'"

(When they attack each other and launch ICBMs, including Poseidons, everything, there will be no more American aid to talk of," he said. "When that happens, we won't need anything but a priest. If you want to say 'mi ultimo adios.)

Aside from China, Duterte said he will also visit Brunei, Japan and maybe Russia.

He said Japan brings the "biggest help" to the Philippines.