China, Philippine relations return to right path: FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gives a press conference for the fifth session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

The relations between China and the Philippines have returned to the right path, benefiting the two peoples and other countries in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came to office, he has handled the South China See issue properly and actively improved relations with China, Wang said.

The Philippines has extended a hand of goodwill, so China of course will embrace it with open arms of cooperation, Wang told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress.

Wang said China and the Philippines are making up the lost time. The potential of bilateral cooperation is rapidly growing.

In less than six months since October last year, there have been about 1,000 new tourist groups from China to the Philippines, and China has imported more than 200,000 tonnes of tropical fruits from the Philippines, he said.

Cooperation on infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges and dams, is being actively discussed, with some becoming operational this year, the minister said.