On April 14, 2020, at the height of the Philippines’ battle against Covid-19, a “Goodwill Flight” chartered from China fully loaded with anti-pandemic supplies landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport despite temporary commercial flights suspension. It was one of the numerous touching moments under the hovering dark cloud of the pandemic that demonstrated the spirit of bayanihan and good faith between our two countries, and also a miniature of our partnership in the new era. Over the past year, I have been time and again impressed by the staunch support that we have rendered to each other in the face of the rampant Covid-19 virus and the severe challenges brought by the once-in-a-century transformation in an increasingly fluid and changing world. I also feel greatly encouraged that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo Duterte, China-Philippine relations have continuously grown in depth and substance in the new era and our millennium-old friendship are being rejuvenated.

In this file photo President Rodrigo Duterte (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping prior to their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 20, 2016.

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