BEIJING – China has lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise that the Philippines will adhere to an independent foreign policy and develop normal relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

"We have noted relevant remarks made by President Duterte. China speaks highly of that," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said following Duterte’s statement during his state of the nation address (SONA) last Monday.

Lu has also commended the popular Filipino leader for his efforts to put China-Philippines relations back on the right track since Duterte assumed office in June last year.

“The past one year and more have seen all-around cooperation between China and the Philippines making important headways, frequent high-level visits, political mutual trust going deeper, practical cooperation demonstrating greater potential, and maritime dialogue and cooperation starting again,” Lu said.

Lu believes that China-Philippines relations will bring benefits not only to Chinese and Filipino people “but also relevant countries in the region.”

Last Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a two-day reciprocal visit to Manila upon invitation of his Filipino counterpart Alan Peter Cayetano who visited Beijing early this month.

After their bilateral meeting, the two diplomats had reportedly signed memorandum of understanding that would further enhance China-Philippines relations.

Wang Yi has also paid courtesy call on President Duterte at the Malacanang Palace.

China-Philippines relations has normalized after Duterte temporarily shelved arbitral tribunal’s judgment in the South China Sea.

Duterte’s decision and his two productive visits have significantly improved China-Philippines relations strained by the maritime disputes.

In his SONA, President Duterte expressed his gratitude to China for its assistance including the construction of two bridges across Pasig River that will decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

China has recently donated thousands of guns worth $7.35 million to the Philippines to help the military in its war against terrorists.

China has pledged USD24 billion worth of investments and infrastructure projects and normalized trade relations by lifting ban on pineapple and banana imports from the Philippines.

The two countries have also formed Bilateral Consultative Mechanism on the South China Sea. The first was meeting held in Guiyang, China last May while the next is set later this year in Manila.

Both the Philippines and China are now discussing the prospects of a joint development of the potentially oil-rich South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

Jelly Musico is a reporter of Philippine News Agency and an Intern of People’s Daily Online