PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, who has favored China over long-time ally United States, on Tuesday said the Philippines and the US remain the “best of friends.”
Duterte made the statement ahead of his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The two leaders, often compared to each other for their candid comments, are expected to meet during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam this week. They are also scheduled to hold bilateral talks in Manila, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean) Summit next week.
“We remain to be the best of friends with the America,” Duterte said in a speech delivered at the commemoration of 67th founding anniversary of the Philippine Marine Press Corps in Taguig City.
He also praised the US for extending assistance to the Philippines "for the longest time."
US-Philippines relations soured after Duterte, who assumed the presidency in July last year, became critical of the US in response to former US president Barack Obama's criticisms on the bloody crackdown on narcotics that authorities say have killed at least 3,000 suspected drug offenders.
Duterte softened his stance toward the US after Trump won, but has repeatedly stressed a foreign policy that favors China and Russia.
The two leaders had phone conversations in December last year, when Duterte congratulated Trump for winning the US presidential race, and in May, when Trump called to discuss concerns about North Korea'a continuing ballistic missile tests. (SunStar Philippines)