Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to continue promoting relations between their countries amid the Philippines’ growing ties with the United States.
Mr. Duterte, whose six-year presidential term ended in June 2022, made a surprise visit to Beijing on July 17 for talks with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader. The Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said it was unaware of the visit.
The CCP leader said that Mr. Duterte had “resolutely made a strategic choice to improve relations with China” and had put their bilateral ties on “the right track” during his administration, according to China’s foreign affairs ministry….