Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte will be bringing with him a huge business delegation when he visits China later next month, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The report, if true, signals Duterte's intent to set aside ongoing squabble over the maritime dispute and forge a strong commercial relation with China.

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Sources claim that nearly two dozen Filipino businessmen would join the highest official of the Philippines. Invitation to business groups to submit names of people, who wish to join the delegation, have already been sent across.

However, there is still no information about the business delegation's schedule in China and the issues they would be discussing with Chinese officials.

China and Philippines relation have nosedived ever since China lost the South China Sea case against the latter in the Permanent Court of Attribution earlier this year. The verdict had dismissed Beijing's historical claim over the maritime territory.

Rodrigo Duterte, however, has been determined to rebuild his country's bilateral relations with China despite rising tension over the verdict. This was vindicated on Wednesday when he said that next week's joint military exercise with United States would be already be the last staging of such drill in the Philippines.

His reportedly unexpected decision, some say, could be regarded as an indication that he wants to move away from historical alliance from United States, which for decades has militarily and diplomatically supported Philippines to counter China's assertiveness in South China Sea. The decision is likely to be welcomed by Chinese leadership.

Despite the recent friendly overtures, it can be recalled that Rodrigo Duterte has made some serious allegations against China. He recently accused Beijing of bullying "Filipino fishermen and being dishonest about its activities" in the disputed Scarborough Shoal.  

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