CELEBRATING 46 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC TIES, CHINA, PHILIPPINES VOW TO COOPERATE FURTHER

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages and renewed commitments for greater cooperation as China and the Philippines celebrate 46th anniversary of diplomatic relations on June 9, with both leaders vowing to cooperate further as the two nations recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

In his message to Chinese President Xi, President Duterte extended his warmest greetings on the 46th anniversary of ChinaPhilippines diplomatic relations, noting the two nations enjoy a deep and abiding friendship that predates by centuries the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Over the past four decades, China-Philippine relations have grown and deepened through concrete and purposive cooperation, he said.

“In the face of the challenges of a global pandemic, China’s timely acts of solidarity and assistance have helped the Philippines take crucial steps towards healing and economic recovery,” the President told the Chinese leader.

“Philippines-China economic ties are of course the dynamic force that will continue to drive our bilateral relations forward. I am confident that my administration’s Build Build Build program, together with the Belt and Road Initiative, will reap long-term benefits for our peoples.”

As the two nations approach the golden anniversary of their diplomatic ties, President Duterte said winwin cooperation would ensure that their relations will promote greater peace, progress and prosperity not only for the Philippines and China but also for the Asian region.

President Xi also extended his congratulatory message to President Duterte on the 46th anniversary of PhilippinesChina diplomatic relations as well as the 123rd anniversary of Philippine independence.

China and the Philippines are friendly neighbors with time-honored friendship, Xi said, noting that in recent years, the two nations have maintained healthy and stable development, bringing tangible benefits to their peoples.

“After the COVID-19 outbreak, the two sides have helped each other to jointly overcome the adversity, further elevating the friendship between the two peoples,” President Xi said.

“I attach great significance to the development of China-Philippines relations, and stand ready to work with you in guiding our bilateral relations to move forward in a sustained and steady manner, so as to achieve greater win-win results and mutual benefits.”

He wished the Philippines to enjoy prosperity and for the Philippines and China to maintain long-term friendship for generations to come.

After assuming office, President Duterte sought to tread a different path from his predecessors and had crafted a more independent foreign policy.

He cultivated warmer ties with the country’s nontraditional allies such China and Russia. PND