Even long before that, the friendship between China and Philippines have already started. In recent years, the China-Philippines relations have been flourishing under the guidance of our two heads of states. Ushering into the new era, President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have met for eight times face-to-face, drawing up strategic blueprints for the continuous development of China-Philippines relations. In light of the pandemic situation in the Philippines, China has also extended every help and support to the Philippines to the best of its ability. The South China Sea issue is neither the keynote nor the sum total of our bilateral relations.

Source: Manila Times June 08, 2021 15:00 UTC