China, Philippines keep up key exchanges ‘behind the scenes’ to fix frayed ties
New Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration offers chance to repair strained relations, says China’s deputy foreign minister
The inauguration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte two months ago was an opportunity for the two sides to repair their relationship, which had been damaged by the Philippines initiating international arbitration on the South China Sea, according to China’s deputy foreign minister Liu Zhenmin.
“Apart from the publicly reported contacts such as the Hong Kong trip by ex-president [Fidel] Ramos to meet his old Chinese friends, there have been important exchanges behind the scenes,” Liu said in Beijing.
“The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines is also in close contact with Duterte himself, his team and his foreign ministry.”