(VOVworld) - The Philippines is maintaining trade and investment ties with the US, even as President Rodrigo Duterte announced the country's "separation" from its longtime ally.

President Rodrigo Duterte

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Friday that the statement by the President simply means maintaining a relationship with the West and just breaking our dependence on western allies, but we don't need to necessarily sever ties and stop trade and investment.

Earlier in Beijing during his four-day state visit to China, President Duterte announced to breaking dependence on the US and to cooperate with China in the context of the Manila and Beijing agreement to solve disputes in the East Sea through dialogue.