President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping
The Philippines is hoping for stronger relations and increased economic ties with China Malacañang said as both countries welcomed their 45th anniversary of diplomatic relationship on Tuesday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the friendship between the two nations is “enjoying a renaissance” under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
“We hope that this renaissance will lead to better relations in resolving all the disputes that we have between the two countries, increased economic ties, increased prosperity for both [the] Philippines and China,” Roque said.
“Over the past 45 years, China and the Philippines have continually deepened mutual political trust,” China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian stated.
“The bilateral relationship has been steadily upgraded, from 21st century-oriented cooperative relationship of good neighborliness and mutual trust to the strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development, and then the relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation,” he added.
The Philippines and China started their diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975.
Duterte had already visited China five times since he assumed the presidency in June 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the other hand, returned the favor by visiting the country in November 2018, which stemmed in the signing of 29 agreements including the memorandum of understanding on cooperation on oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea.
The Philippines’ arbitration victory on the maritime dispute has been thrown away by Duterte to create strong improvement in Manila’s economic and diplomatic relations with Beijing, which critics see as kowtowing to China.
He also maintained his position not to anger the Asian giant regarding the South China Sea dispute saying that if the two nations go to war over, the Filipino troops would “be massacred.” (RJ Espartinez)