Duterte highly regarded by Chinese, Asean businessmen

NANNING, China – Despite his recent controversial verbal spat with the world’s most powerful president on issues involving human rights, President Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity continues to soar as he received mostly positive remarks from Chinese and ASEAN business leaders.

In an interview during the opening of the 13th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) here yesterday, International Chamber of Commerce Philippines founding chairman and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman emeritus Francis Chua said the tough-talking Philippine president was highly regarded by the Chinese and ASEAN business communities.

Chua on Saturday night met with his fellow business leaders from the region and China for the annual CAEXPO supporting chambers of commerce conference and business networking activity.

“You’ll be surprised a lot of them was saying that this is the kind of president that the ASEAN needs. We have the biggest problem in Asia, in which some countries are not strong enough. (They said) we really pray hard for that president and if he succeeds, that’s a story that everybody can follow and can emulate,” Chua said.

US President Barack Obama scrapped bilateral talks with Duterte last week during the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane, Laos following the latter’s controversial remarks.

“So it’s a total different thing because there are people that keep on hammering on the human rights issue. Human rights is correct, but when it comes to the administration of the country, there is a certain way different presidents and different administrators would like to adhere into,” Chua said.

“There are people who might be pro our president, there are some who might be against but I was so surprised that all those ASEAN and Chinese (business leaders) were saying ‘you guys you are so lucky you got a president that was not even worried about his safety.’ They are all so supportive,” Chua said.