PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday night, August 11, to maintain good foreign relations with all countries at the Presidential Guesthouse, now known as Panacañang, within the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH)-Davao compound in Panacan, Davao City.
The directive underscores that China is not off the list amid all the issues emanating from the West Philippine Sea dispute.
“We maintain a good relation with everybody. China does not come in second. They are all first to us,” Duterte said.
“The treatment is equal based on mutual respect and the guarantee that business will be successful, and we gave them the assurance that they can recover their investments,” the President added.
Last month, there have been talks that President Duterte might consider China as destination for his first foreign visit to relay a message signal to the world that the Philippines is willing to repair injured relationships caused by the dispute for the sake of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific.
On Monday, former President Fidel Ramos went to Hong Kong, a move to jumpstart his mission as special envoy to China.
The trip, Ramos said, is aimed at building friendship, goodwill and harmony between the two countries.
“A renewal of friendship and also – a fishing expedition,” Ramos said earlier.
When Duterte was asked if they discussed the West Philippine Sea issue with Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, the President said yes, adding that Japan shares the same vision with the Philippines which is to maintain peace, stability and prosperity between nations.
u201dI told him our position on China, not to start hostilities and Kishida said Japan will do the same, they also just want dialogues,” Duterte said.
Duterte vowed that the country will provide good business environment to all foreign investors like those from Japan.
“There are a lot of Japanese investments here and I said we would welcome more. We are putting economic zones everywhere in the country, I assured them that we would accommodate you and we would be happy if you come in also to help especially in the employment aspect of our joined effort,” Duterte said.
Duterte also reiterated its stand on amending the provisions of the 1987 Constitution on the 60-40 foreign ownership policy in favor of Filipinos.
“I would assure them that they would have the profits, and in the coming days, we might be able to fix something in the constitution,” he said.
“I was against before of selling the lands and that is still my stand, but I am willing to change this 60-40 thing (foreign ownership) make it more elaborate, maybe if it’s a half-half thing, as long as there are really good investments where I can provide livelihood for everybody, that is where we are lacking,” Duterte added. (ASP)