Seeking to put a positive spin on a relationship that never quite produced the hoped-for benefits, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday that the two nations have "properly" handled the sensitive issue of the disputed South China Sea.
Xi made his remarks in a phone conversation with Duterte, who nurtured closer ties with Beijing after taking office in 2016.
Despite cozier relations, however, sporadic territorial spats have persisted and Beijing has had limited success separating the Philippines from its treaty ally, the United States. Xi made no mention of disputes, saying the sides "have adhered to the important consensus reached, adhered to good-neighbourly and friendly cooperation, insisted on properly handling differences, and insisted on working together for common development."