Carry on good ties with PH as new president takes over office

Aquino to new ambassadors:

President Aquino urged yesterday new ambassadors to the Philippines to carry on the strong relationship with the country when incoming president Rodrigo Duterte steps into office.

Aquino, assisted by Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Chief of Presidential Protocol Celia Anna Feria received the credentials of Ambassadors-Designate Rodrigo do Amaral Souza of the Federative Republic of Brazil; Ali Ibrahim AI Al-Malki of the State of Qatar; Hazim Ahmed Mahmud Al-Yousifi of the Republic of Iraq; and Capaya Rodriguez Gonzalez of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

“I speak to all of you, a mere 37 days before I step down from office, I will not have the pleasure of working with you much longer. Nevertheless, I trust you will carry forward the relationship… with my duly-elected successor after he assumes office on June 30,” Aquino said.

Aquino expressed hope for the new envoys’ fruitful stay in the country.

“I’m truly glad to have you here and I hope that your stay is productive and that your work will redound to the benefit of all,” he said.

The outgoing president also expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue to have a strong bilateral relationship with their respective countries.

“Presidents may come and go but the friendship between our respective nations must always remain and flourished,” Aquino said.

“I’m hopeful that even after my time in office, our commitment to strengthening our relations will endure and that we can truly give rise to a world that is stable, just, and progressive, a world we can be proud to bequeath to future generations,” he said.