MANILA, Philippines - Despite the row over maritime territories and occasional exchange of bitter words, China and the Philippines still enjoy a "deep historical friendship," the top Chinese diplomat in Manila said.
Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing believes that the tension between the Asian neighbors will not last long as both sides are keen on mending the "strained" relationship.
"United we win, [divided] we lose. So, upon leaving, I have the confidence that I would look forward to the day when our relations would [be back] the normal track and will be even better again. I hope the day will come sooner than later," Ma said in a farewell dinner on Tuesday night as quoted in a state news report.
Ma was appointed ambassador to the Philippines January 2012 and will end her tour of duty early next year.
"I learned a lot from these two years. One of the most (challenging) experiences is that how to deal with a host country with which your own country has a conflict of sovereignty. It is very complex (since) it bears the national sentiments of both countries," Ma admitted.
Ma said that her term as China's representative in Manila was immediately met with a renewed public and political interest on the overlapping claims over Spratlys Islands in the West Philippine Sea--a situation she dealt with locally by winning friends and reaching out.
"Outside Metro Manila I have visited nine provinces and spoke to students in a dozen universities and also local civil society. I have also managed to make friends [in] these difficult times and I am very lucky to have all of you to support me and help me in my endeavors," she said, addressing a crowd of industry leaders.
Cooperation needed
Filipinos could contribute to bringing an end to the maritime crisis by sustaining economic growth in the region and welcoming help from China, which for its part is willing to share technologies to the Southeast Asian nation.
"In China , we are expecting a sustainable economic growth in the years to come and in this region we are going to see a golden opportunity for all the countries within the region to grow together. I see no reason to doubt this opportunity but to join hands together," Ma said.
In the aftermath of Super-typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in November, Beijing sent its 14,300-ton navy hospital ship Peace Ark to devastated Leyte and to assist in the recovery and stabilization efforts alongside other countries' relief teams.
Chinese ministry spokesperson Hong Lei had said the gesture was the first time that the Asian giant, a rapidly rising global power, has deployed a naval vessel for a humanitarian mission.
On Tuesday, United States Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Manila for his first state visit signaling the US' intention to sustain the Obama administration's strategic rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific.
Addressing the Philippine media, Kerry condemned China's declaration of airspace control over Japan-claimed territories in the East China Sea. Both Japan and the US are Philippines' close allies.
Kerry also announced a renewed pledge from Washington of $40 million in security assistance for the Philippines to boost its military capabilities amid China's assertive claims in the region.
Read: US earmarks $40 million for Philippines' defense