PRESIDENT Aquino said on Tuesday his forthcoming state visit to China would be focused on “cooperation, not confrontation.”

Mr. Aquino made the statement when asked if he expects his visit to China to lead to the resolution of the administration’s concerns over the shelved North Luzon Railway (NorthRail) project, which is funded by a loan from China.

“We’re hoping that we’ll move forward with regards to the NorthRail project and other issues. But we are not there to have a confrontation with them. We are trying to find out where we can have cooperation as neighbors in Asia,” the President said.

Mr. Aquino did not elaborate what the “other issues” would be but it is expected to include the Philippines’ concerns in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), where incursions by Chinese vessels had been reported, but denied by China.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who will be part of the presidential delegation to China, had said the Philippines would be seeking amendments in the NorthRail contract which was forged under the Arroyo administration.

The contract for the 80-kilometer rail project, which would link Caloocan City to Angeles City in Pampanga, has been suspended over alleged overpricing.

Upon the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Mr. Aquino will conduct a state visit to China from August 30 to September 3, specifically to Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen, accompanied by senior Cabinet officials and a large business delegation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier said among the highlights of the visit would be enhancing the Joint Action Plan on Strategic Cooperation, which was on October 29, 2009, and the signing of the Philippines-China Five-Year Development Program for Trade and Economic Cooperation.