Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has officially ended his nearly six-year tour of duty in the country, which he described as an "unforgettable and truly extraordinary journey."

Huang served as China's envoy to the country for five years and 10 months, making him  the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the Philippines.

In his speech at the Ambassador's Farewell on Thursday, Sept. 26, Huang said that although his tenure was filled with ups and downs between the relations of China and the Philippines, he had "deeply felt the friendship and goodwill of the Philippine people toward the Chinese people."

"During my time in this beautiful country, I have experienced an unforgettable and truly extraordinary journey. I have witnessed the ups and downs of China-Philippines relations, and throughout it all, I have deeply felt the friendship and goodwill of the Philippine people toward the Chinese people," he said.

"The Philippine people are kind, warm and hospitable. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope that people of the Philippines will enjoy a happy and prosperous life. This is my deepest and most heartfelt wish for the people of this country," he expressed.

He emphasized that there were many moments and efforts in strengthening the bonds between the two countries, sharing experiences and challenges together.

He stressed that although the China-Philippine ties had been confronted with long-standing maritime dispute during his time, the two countries addressed them through dialogues and continued to engaged deep reflection on the future of bilateral relations.

"We addressed maritime disputes and differences through diplomatic dialogue, making every efforts to inject stability to our bilateral relations. We engaged in deep reflection on the future of bilateral relations and worked to strengthen strategic mutual trust," he said.

"We also listened closely to the voices of our peoples and devoted ourselves to fostering people-to-people bonds and advancing practical cooperation in various fields," he added.

The Chinese envoy also expressed belief that the momentum of the two countries' relations is unstoppable.

"Since the establishment of our diplomatic relations, our relationship has endured various challenges and been passed on from generation to generation. Looking ahead, I firmly believe that the friendship between our peoples will stand the test of time, and that the momentum of China–Philippines relations is unstoppable," he said.

Huang also conveyed his gratitude to all his friends in the country for standing with him through thick and thin and for offering invaluable support.

He also hoped that more people of vision will join in advancing China–Philippines relations.

Before holding a farewell reception, which coincided with the celebration of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Huang also made a farewell call to President Marcos at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday morning.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was also present during the ambassador's farewell reception.