MANILA, Philippines - After dishing out insulting remarks against the leaders of the United States, European Union and the United Nations, President Duterte is optimistic about establishing better relations with China and Japan during his working visits to those countries this month.
In his visit to Beijing, Duterte said he is hoping that the Chinese government would finally allow Filipino fishermen to go back to its traditional fishing grounds, particularly the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal near Zambales.
Sources revealed that Duterte is campaigning around the region to have a united Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the country is set to host the summit next year in Manila.
Following the nomination of former ABC News Beijing Bureau Chito Sto. Romana as ambassador to China, Duterte said he hopes Beijing will ease restrictions on the quality of bananas being exported by the Philippines to China.
“But I hope to report to you good news when I shall have visited Japan and China. I’m quite positive about China, okay lang. We will have the Filipinos’ traditional fishing grounds. I think they will ease up with the quality control for the banana and so many other things,” he said.