China's "Belt and Road" memorandum of understanding "will be on the table" for Presidents Xi Jinping and Rodrigo Duterte to sign, Foreign Affairs Secretary @teddyboylocsin said. #ANCRecap pic.twitter.com/seq15Mz3mh

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) November 7, 2018

MANILA - China's "Belt and Road Initiative" will be at the forefront of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines this month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Wednesday.

According to Locsin, he has finished the draft of the memorandum of understanding between China and the Philippines, which will be signed during Xi's visit.

"I promise you, that the Belt and Road memorandum of understanding will be on the table for the two presidents to sign," Locsin told ANC.

Locsin also said the Philippines is the only country left out of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"I said wait a minute, who's in it? Everyone but us... Is Vietnam in it? Yes. You know, Vietnam is really jealous of its rights in Asia, and they joined it. One of the first to join. So what are we doing out of it?" he said.

Xi is expected to visit the country this month after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Papua New Guinea.

President Rodrigo Duterte first invited Xi to visit the Philippines during his state visit to China in October 2016, which the Chinese leader “accepted with pleasure.”

• President Xi Jinping visit a 'milestone' but 'not rare' for PH, says Locsin

The chief executive renewed his invitation to Xi on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ meeting in Lima, Peru last November 2016. His visit was announced while Duterte was in China's southern Hainan province for the Boao Forum for Asia last April.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said there is no joint exploration deal yet between China and the Philippines, but it might be among the issues to be discussed during Xi's visit.