Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines will bring bilateral relations up "a notch higher" and comprehensively deepen cooperation in all areas.
The current relations between Beijing and Manila have reached an "apex" and are like "the full blossom of the flower," Duterte told the Chinese media in a recent interview.
Xi is visiting Brunei and the Philippines from November 18 to 21 after leaving Papua New Guinea, where he attended the 2018 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.
China-Philippines ties at 'apex'
Duterte said the relationship between China and the Philippines has developed steadily in the past two years and is currently at an "apex."
He said he is very satisfied and pleased to see that the bilateral cooperation is benefiting the two countries and their people and that President Xi's visit will bring the ties "one notch higher."
As China has now become the Philippines' largest trading partner, Duterte said Philippine-China economic and trade cooperation has continued to develop – the Philippines' exports, including tropical fruits, to China has grown particularly rapidly, and more and more Philippine products have entered the Chinese market.
Duterte said he hopes both countries will improve the relationship in trade and commerce.
When asked how to strengthen Sino-Philippine cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Duterte responded that his country is promoting large-scale infrastructure construction plans and China has shown great interest in this.
According to him, at present, a number of cooperative construction projects are being carried out, and some projects will soon be completed.
Duterte also stressed that he would further discuss with China how to deepen cooperation between the two countries under the framework of the BRI and put more ideas into action.
He believes that in the future, the Philippine people would feel the convenience brought by the infrastructure projects.
President Duterte stressed that the Philippines and China are close neighbors and their people share a cultural bond, and noted more and more Chinese tourists choose the Philippines as a tourist destination during holidays.
The recent years have witnessed closer civil exchanges which have further improved the friendship between the two countries, he added.
Duterte also specifically mentioned China's support to the Philippines in counter-terrorism and anti-drug efforts.
He said that unlike some other countries, China's support and assistance to the Philippines is sincere with no strings attached.
Solve differences through dialogues
Duterte also identified three areas to increase cooperation: trade, defense and maritime issues.
The Philippines is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in safeguarding national security and maintaining regional peace and stability, he said.
In terms of the differences that exist in bilateral relations, especially concerning South China Sea issues, Duterte said he is willing to resolve them through consultation and dialogue with a friendly and peaceful manner.
Duterte has visited China many times and witnessed China's development. He said that China's reform and opening-up policy has achieved fruitful results and China has undergone tremendous changes in the past four decades.
He said that he cherishes the friendly relations with China and is very happy that President Xi Jinping can visit the Philippines during his presidency.
He added that his little daughter Kitty is studying Chinese as a foreign language, and he might ask her to sing a Chinese song for Xi.