Xi Jinping's state visit to the Philippines is the first by a Chinese president in more than a decade. Their bilateral relations were strained a couple of years ago over the South China Sea. But since Rodrigo Duterte took office two years ago, they've seen a marked improvement. In an interview with Chinese media including CCTV, Duterte explained why he was interested in strengthening cooperation with China.

HUANG ZHENGZHENG CCTV REPORTER "How do you define with this visit?"

RODRIGO DUTERTE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT "Yes, this will be one knot higher. And the coming visit of President Xi would spell like something, the full blossom of the flower, it's highest that two nations can ever hope to happen."

"What's your comment about the current bilateral relations and cooperations between China and the Philippines?"

RODRIGO DUTERTE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT "It's an apex actually. The very thing is that China has not barred any import from the Philippines, and as a matter of fact, it is encouraging us, the trade itself is encouraging us to sell more-what we can, and not only that, the tourist arrival, which is real money also has increased about a million, Chinese visiting the Philippines. Not alone would improve the country, well, one is that we will improve our relationship in trade and commerce. Second, a close relationship with the defense. Third, is a cooperation to improve the conditions of our international seas to eliminate the piracy, and well of course trade and policy goes with the business of increase more trade in the days to come. I think that we have hit the positive plateau. And we would like to remain in that plateau. So, why spoil it?"

"Well, you see there is a commonality of the things that we use in life. We are Orientals. Any kind of, even the food, even the menu on the taste, it's all oriental. And there're so many things which are common to the culture of China and of the Philippines. If you go there in the exhibit, I'm sure a lot of those things would appeal to the people there because I said if there's a commonality even in the carving of the menu, even the noodles, it's called pancit here, but it's actually a menu of Chinese, long before when trade was booming in the olden days. There was no occupation with foreigners. Trade was the only activity around Southeast Asia and to the credit of China, they never occupy or conquer a country. That is one lesson for everybody."

"How do you think our two countries can seize the opportunity to advance the synergy between BBB and BRI? How can we cooperate better?"

RODRIGO DUTERTE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT "You know some of those are really gratis. In the assistance of the infrastructure, the BBB, some of the things that China has given us are in pure liberality, meaning to say it's given gratis. But there are big projects that China has shown interest to participate and to build. Along the way as we improved our economy and the infrastructure allow people to move easily, mobility is increased. There is an economic activity also moving. So eventually that BBB will continue over the years and you will see that that's a great advantage of earning money and building more roads, giving more people the chance to move around to transport especially the train." 

"Kitty learning Chinese. Why did she choose to learn the Chinese language? Did she ask permission from you?"

"The school is run by Chinese. My grandfather is Chinese. She can talk in Chinese now. She looks exactly like my mother, Chinese looking. Look at the eyes."

"Will you ask Kitty to sing or speak Chinese in the gala dinner?"

"Yes, of course. She's very shy but to think that she'll be singing for one of the most powerful people in the world today, I think she would only be too happy. I will ask her to practice. I'll call her now, and I say that maybe President Xi would if she knows to a Chinese school."

"You and President Xi have met at least 5 times in several bilateral and multilateral occasions, I think that says a lot about the state or the status of our bilateral relations. I'm just wondering, can you share with us what is your deepest impression of President Xi?"

"He is a very frank person, when you talk to him, very frank and very straight. And I said that I'm going to be, the exact words and he said that 'maybe,' he was explaining to me in a very soft voice, said 'we just start this relation, there is always a time for everything,' which is really true. He's very understanding, and we have a good rapport. So, no problem."