President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last year turned out to be a good decision as Philippine exports were boosted as a result.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the P700-million drug rehabilitation center in Bukidnon, Duterte said that the country’s improving relationship with China has immediately taken effect on local fruit exporters.
“You know, I went to China and I said, “President Xi Jinping, I come here in peace. I am not asking for anything. I am just trying to ask you to reconsider your decisions. You have banned almost of the products from the Philippines. For one reason or another quality wise and everything. I said, “Can we fix it? Ah no. What should we be doing to improve the quality? Because the pineapples are rotting and the bananas you know, it’s all down and they could not even pay for their laborers.”
Immediately after his meeting with President Xi, Beijing has lifted the suspension of 20 banana and six mango exporters from the Philippines.
“And after my meeting, he said you can export again. And you know what? It is back to normal, 100 percent,” Duterte said, gaining applauses from the crowd. “The banana is nearing 70 percent. And China, with all of its maybe they think also that we are relatives.”
Amid tensions during the height of the territorial row over the West Philippine Sea, Beijing destroyed 35 tons of bananas from the Philippines valued at $33,000 which led to the suspension of 27 exporters.
The bananas were destroyed in Shenzen, a major entry point for Philippine bananas, after notifications of non-compliance.
Duterte however, maintained that he doesn’t want to enter into military alliances with any country at this point.
“I never conceded anything except that I wanted friendship,” Duterte said.
Recently, Philippine and Chinese trade officials met during the the 28th Philippine-Chinese Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC), the official bilateral mechanism for discussion of trade, investments and economic cooperation.
The JCETC was convened after a five-year hiatus, and serves as a quick follow through of Duterte’s state visit to China last October.