Xi Jinping writes ‘thank you’ letter to Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed gratitude to President Duterte following a two-day state visit here this week, wishing the Philippine leader good health and success, prosperity for the country, happiness for the people and stronger friendship between Manila and Beijing.

In a message released by the Chinese embassy yesterday, Xi said that during the visit, he was “once again deeply touched” by Duterte’s “sincerity and determination to grow our bilateral relations and by the friendly sentiment of the Philippine people toward the Chinese people.”

"I am also deeply impressed by your insight into China-Philippines relations and the current international situation, which proves once again that China and the Philippines are partners in a common journey toward peace and development,” Xi said in his letter.

Xi vowed to work with his “personal friend” Duterte to strengthen political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation between the Philippines and China, noting how pleased he was with the outcomes of his visit, which included meetings with Duterte, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“We had in-depth exchange of views, reached important agreement on our bilateral relations and issues of shared interest, and witness the signing of a series of cooperation documents,” he said.

Open for review

During the visit, various agreements were signed between the countries, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the possible joint exploration for gas and oil reserves in the West Philippine Sea.

The Senate and House of Representatives will receive on Monday copies of the documents that the Philippines signed with China during the recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday.

Responding to a question on why he needs China’s permission before they release a copy of the MOU on the joint oil and gas exploration on the West Philippine Sea, Locsin said it is the polite thing to do as the Chinese had little time to propose amendments on the document he drafted.

“Because China accepted my MOUs at face value and signed on to them in an act of trust. China had little time to propose amendments. So it is only polite to ask them – a quality no one is born with but can be bred into,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Copies will be with the Senate and House by Monday,” he added.

It was unclear if the Department of Foreign Affairs would transmit copies of all the 29 cooperation documents signed during Xi’s visit, or only those signed by Locsin and his counterpart, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Senators earlier said they would review the agreements signed during the state visit, particularly the MOU on oil and gas exploration which some critics warned could compromise the country’s sovereignty.

CNN Philippines yesterday released a copy of the three-page MOU, which among others establishes an inter-governmental joint steering committee to discuss possible cooperation arrangements for joint oil and gas exploration.

Still on Twitter, Locsin clarified that the MOU is not “an oil deal but a framework for possible oil deals.”

“I don’t defend; I explain the obvious. I never defend what needs no defending except from sworn enemies of China who can never find anything but wrong in relating with China. They are China’s problem; not mine,” he said in response to a newspaper report saying he defended the oil deal with China.

Meanwhile, former solicitor general and senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay said the agreement between the Philippines and China on oil exploration diminishes the Constitutional requirement of full control and supervision over natural resources. 

“The decision in Philippines v. China declares that we don’t share any overlapping entitlements with China over West Philippine Sea,” he said in reaction to the MOU.

“The secrecy clause in paragraph five spells danger,” he added, referring to a provision stating that any information shared by the two governments will be kept confidential unless the two parties decide otherwise.