The Chinese government has congratulated former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who are poised to claim overwhelming victory in their bids for president and vice-president, respectively.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian conveyed on Thursday, May 12, the congratulatory messages of President Xi Jinping to Marcos Jr. and from Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan to Duterte.
"I had the honor to convey the congratulatory messages from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President-elect Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and from Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan to Vice-President-elect Sara Duterte respectively," Huang said.
Huang also congratulated the leading candidates in the country's two highest positions.
"I have extended warmest congratulations to President-elect Bongbong Marcos and Vice-President-elect Sara Duterte," Huang said.
The ambassador believes that "with their vision for the Philippines and wisdom to navigate through different obstacles."
"I am confident that a Philippines under the next administration will surely demonstrate unprecedented unity to rise above all challenges, to recover from the pandemic and to prosper," the Chinese ambassador said.
"And I have no doubt that under the next administration, our bilateral relations will only become stronger, our peoples closer and our cooperation deeper and wider," he added.
Huang said they look forward to working with the next Philippine government "to upgrade our Relationship of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation to new height and bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of our two countries."
On Wednesday, May 11, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian congratulated the Philippines on the smooth presidential elections.
Zhao said that China would continue to work with the Philippines to stay committed to “good neighborliness” and friendship, focus on post-Covid growth, expand win-win cooperation, and bring more tangible benefits to both peoples.