Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday gave his word and willingness to work with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to continuously improve their countries’ cooperation to new levels.
“I attach great importance to the development of China-Philippines ties,” Xi said in his congratulatory message to Duterte in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
China and the Philippines are good neighbors with profound traditional friendship, Xi said, noting that over the past 45 years of diplomatic relations, China-Philippines ties have made remarkable progress.
Duterte stressed the importance of consolidating Philippines-China partnership especially now that the world is facing threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duterte said the Philippine side takes China as a close neighbor and an important partner, and is ready to deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation and facilitate peace, development and prosperity of the two countries by upholding the principle of peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation.
