Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has commended President Duterte for "strengthening and deepening" the country's relations with China, days before Duterte ends his term on June 30.

Andanar said this during the virtual 6th Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations on Friday, June 24.

In his remarks, Andanar looked back at how the relationship between the two neighbors evolved since Duterte assumed the presidency.

"The China-Philippine relationship has been placed on a better platform...than what we experienced the last six years," he said.

The press secretary, in particular, thanked China for the Covid-19 vaccines it donated last year.

"We are once again grateful to China, our friend for more than a thousand years, for helping us through these challenging and tough times," Andanar said.

"With the vaccines China has donated, we were able to start our healing and economic recovery as a people and nation during the beginning of the pandemic," he added.

Meanwhile, Andanar said President Duterte handled the West Philippine Sea dispute "carefully and decisively" and that the government would uphold the full implementation of the Code of Conduct of the parties in the South China Sea, adherence to freedom of navigation and overflight, and the exercise of self-restraint and protection of the marine environment.

"This is exhibited by his unrelenting stance on the West Philippine Sea where he again mentions that the 2016 arbitral award - a significant contribution to the body of international law particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and that it singles out no one," he said.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China's claims over the waters. China continues to reject the ruling.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had lodged over 300 diplomatic protests against China's supposed illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea. Early this month, the country protested the return of over 100 Chinese vessels to the Julian Felipe Reef.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. likewise said that President Duterte had ordered the "complete termination" of the talks for a possible joint oil and gas exploration between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.

Locsin's revelation came after President Duterte, on March 7 this year, warned that the Philippines should keep its word about having a joint exploration with China at the Recto Bank in the disputed territorial waters after a third player wants to "take over" China's role in the venture.

"Pinaaalala sa akin, hindi ko na sabihin sino, from China, sabi niya, ''Di ba may usapan tayo joint development 'yang sa Recto Bank?' May bagong istorya na may papalit na, ganoon (I won't name names but someone from China reminded me that we have an agreement about a joint development at the Recto Bank but they heard that someone else was coming in)," Duterte said.

"Binulungan ako na, '’Wag ganon. Yung original contract natin, sundin natin.' (They whispered to me, telling me to not do that and to honor our original contract)," he added.

Despite these developments, the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said China remains willing to assist the incoming administration and start a new chapter in the relationship between the two Asian nations.

"We reviewed the fruitful achievements in the past six years between our two countries and envisioned a brighter future for our two relations during the forum," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"China is willing to assist the new administration of the Philippines in tackling the challenges and uncertainties of the world, and work together to build on past achievements and start a new chapter for China-Philippines Friendship and Cooperation," he added.