Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, July 17 met Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in a bid to fortify the relationship between the Philippines and China.&nbsp;
The Embassy of China in Manila posted photos of the two leaders meeting held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China on social media.
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In a Twitter post, Chinese Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Hua Chunying said that Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation for Duterte's "strategic choice to improve relations with China during his presidency."&nbsp;
She added that the Chinese President acknowledged Duterte's "important contributions to friendly exchanges between the two coutnries."
"China values its relations with the Philippines and is ready to work with the Philippines to promote the steady and sustained growth of bilateral relations," Chunying furthered.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Xi Jinping met with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. President Xi said he appreciates the strategic choice Mr. Duterte made to improve relations with China during his presidency &amp; his important contributions to friendly exchanges between the two countries. <a href="https://t.co/3RxyXb206C">pic.twitter.com/3RxyXb206C</a>
&mdash; Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonCHN/status/1680923094310088705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
The meeting was done amidst the persistent tension between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and China Coast Guard (CCG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).&nbsp;
Just last July 5, two CCG vessels executed <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/chinese-vessels-caried-out-'dangerous-maneuvers'-vs-ph-ships-in-ayungin-shoal-pcg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"dangerous maneuvers&rdquo; </a>that almost led to a collision with two PCG ships near Ayungin Shoal in WPS.&nbsp;
A few days after the incident, the PCG <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/over-50-chinese-ship-spotted-in-wps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spotted </a>the presence of 48 Chinese maritime Militias in the Iroquois Reef and three CCG vessels in Tabina Shoal.
The&nbsp; Embassy of France to the Philippines has <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/france-embassy-on-china's-moves-in-wps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;resolutely opposed&rdquo;</a> the recent action made by China.

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Ex-Pres Duterte meets Chinese President Xi Jinping