President Rodrigo R. Duterte and outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday acknowledged outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua’s contributions to the “stronger” relations between the Philippines and China.
Duterte, in a farewell call held at Malacañang, thanked Zhao for his key role in the mended ties between Manila and Beijing, the Palace said in a press statement.
Malacañang said the President also wished the Chinese ambassador “good luck” in his future endeavors.
“President Duterte, whose independent foreign policy, drove the Philippines closer to the Asian economic giant, wished Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua good luck in his next assignment as China’s ambassador,” it said in a statement sent to media on late Monday night.
“The Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Zhao for his vital role in a growing and more robust bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China,” it added.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar earlier announced that Zhao is set to leave Manila for another assignment beginning November.
Zhao, 53, holds a Master’s Degree in World Economy from Nankai University and a Master’s Degree in International Policy and Practice from Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.
Zhao served as China’s Ambassador to the Philippines in 2014, a year after Manila lodged a petition against Beijing’s sweeping claims to the hotly-contested South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Netherlands.
The Philippines on July 12, 2016 won the arbitration case, after the PCA ruled that there was “no legal basis” for China to claim historic rights to most parts of the busy waterway.
Zhao witnessed the mended ties between the two countries under Duterte who opted to resolve the sea dispute through diplomatic negotiations.
Duterte expressed hope that Zhao’s successor would be “as good, if not better than him,” Malacañang said. (PNA)
