MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is optimistic that a stronger bond of friendship will be developed between the Philippines and China after pivoting away from long-time ally United States.
President Duterte said in a statement over the weekend that the annual Chinese New Year celebrates “new beginnings and ushers in hope and wishes of prosperity for our nation.”
“The fact that we are celebrating this event and embracing it as one of our own reflects the strong and inseparable bond that has been forged through centuries of friendly and beneficial relations between the Philippines and China,” Duterte said.
“As we open a new page in our shared history, may we foster even stronger bonds of friendship with those of Chinese descent all around the world through cooperation, investments, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties,” he added.
Duterte also remained optimistic that members of the Filipino-Chinese community would continue to exhibit “small acts of kindness” that would eventually bring progress to the country.
“I also hope that the Chinese-Filipino community will continue to engage in socio-civic and charitable acts that will uplift the lives of our people, especially the poor and the marginalized,” Duterte said.
“Together, these small acts of kindness shall create a ripple effect that will benefit not only those belonging to your community but also countless others, creating a much bigger wave of compassion that will eventually redound to the greater good of our country,” he added.
The Philippines established its diplomatic ties with China on June 9, 1975. The two countries’ cooperation in the fields of security, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchanges has also improved under Duterte’s watch./PN
