Chinese foreign minister attends Cayetano’s birthday bash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) shakes hands with President Rodrigo Duterte at the birthday part of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (right). (Photo by ARJOY CENIZA / Inquirer Mindanao)

DAVAO CITY — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he was honored to be invited to the late night birthday bash of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

“I’m deeply honored to be invited to this family-like gathering,” the Chinese leader, wearing a barong tagalog, said in the wee hours of Monday.

“I know you invited me to show I’m your friend. That’s why I am wearing barong,” he said, eliciting chuckles from his audience.

President Rodrigo Duterte thanked China for thousands of livelihood opporutnities that were created by bilateral agreements that it signed with the Philippines and China and the increased trade between the Philippines and China.

“We’re having the best of our relationship with China,” the President said. “Thank you China for all the things you’ve done.

“The fact that you’ve provided livelihood, for allowing the importations of our products, you are telling the world all our products are accepted,” he added. “We’re very happy for the increased trade and cultural cooperation. We have normalized the relationship between China and the Philippines.”

Wang, who described Cayetano as one of China’s best friends, and as his good friend, said one of the most important accomplishments of Cayetano as foreign secretary was the return of good bilateral relations between the Philippines and China.

“The facts prove that the friendly relations between China and the Philippines is in keeping with the long term interest between China and the Filipino people,” he said. “Therefore, it is no coincidence that China opened its consular office today, along with the launching of direct flights between Hongkong and Davao, this is our greatest gift to Cayetano and President Duterte.” /atm