Duterte defends ‘good’ China, lauds contributions to Phl

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday defended Manila's relationship with Beijing anew, and lauded the assistance given to his antinarcotics campaign, ABS-CBN News reported.

In a speech during the Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, the president said China is a better ally than the United States, and recalled the help given by Chinese tycoons in building the 10,000-bed "mega" rehabilitation center for recovering drug addicts in Nueva Ecija.

"China is good to us. America is our friend but they abandoned us ... The Americans are characterized as the monkey riding your back," he said in a mix of English and Visayan.

Duterte explained that he simply wants to "make friends" and develop trade with China to boost the Philippine economy. "China is my neighbor. I just want to make friends and trade so that my people will be happy and we can improve the country," he said.

The president also lauded the presence of Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua at the festival, and said the latter's attendance was "very special and meaningful" as he will open doors for better diplomatic relations with China and other countries.

In a separate speech, Duterte revealed that China offered to build two bridges over the Pasig River for free.

Zhao last month said, Duterte will visit Beijing for the second time for a multilateralsummitinMay.HesaidPresidentDuterteacceptedChinesePresident Xi Jinping's invitation to attend the "One Belt, One Road" summit, a high level gathering among leaders, to strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines.