Marcos ‘sure’ Duterte will share details of talks with Xi

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos is aware of his predecessor former President Rodrigo Duterte's trip to China and welcomed any new line of communication with the Asian power amid issues in the South China Sea.

Marcos added that he was certain Duterte will tell the Philippine government the details of his converstion with Chinese President Xi Jinping and how it could affect the country.

This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs said it had no "official information" on Duterte's trip to Beijing.

Marcos said he welcomed any new line of communication with China.

"If that is President PRRD then good. Hindi importante sa akin kung sino, kung ano, basta't may makausap sila baka makatulong eh," Marcos said.

(If that is President PRRD, then good. It is not important for me who, but as long as anyone could dialog, they might help.)

"I am sure that he will have ah, hindi naman report, I am sure he will be able to tell us what happened during their conversation and see how that affects us," he added.

DFA: No official information

As regards Duterte trip to Beijing, DFA spokesperson Teresita said, "We do not have official information on the visit of the former President."

Asked if he gave Duterte his blessing to go to China, Marcos said, "No. Nag permiso? Hindi naman kasi... Alam ko naman na pupunta siya. At magkaibigan sila, magkakilala sila."

(No. For permission..? I knew that he was going. And that they are friends, they know each other.)

"So I hope that napagusapan nila 'yung mga isyu na ngayon na mga nakikita natin, 'yung mga shadowing, 'yung mga kung anu-ano," Marcos said.

"All of these things that we are seeing now I hope napagusapan nila para naman magakroon tayo ng progress, kasi 'yun naman talaga ang habol natin eh patuloy ang paguusap," he added.

(I hope they were able to talk about the issues that we have been seeing, the shadowing, and other matters. All of these things that we are seeing now, I hope they were able to discuss so we can have progress because that is what we're after. The continued dialog.)

Xi asks Duterte

Xi had been reported to have asked Duterte to continue to promote cooperation between the Philippines and China.

Marcos has repeatedly said that enhanced communication with China would address the issues in the West Philippine Sea.

"I hope you will continue to play an important role in the friendly cooperation (between China and the Philippines)," state media cited Xi as saying during a meeting at the Diaoyutai state guest-house in Beijing on Monday.

"During your tenure as president of the Philippines, you had resolutely made the strategic choice to improve relations with China in an attitude of being responsible to the people and to history," Xi told Duterte.

On Twitter, Hua Chunyung also said Xi told Duterte that he appreciated Duterte's decision to improve Philippines-China relations during his presidency.

Xi said he appreciates the strategic choice Mr. Duterte made to improve relations with China during his presidency and his important contributions to friendly exchanges between the two countries," Hua said.

China has always insisted on being friendly with its neighbors, which it sees as its partners, Xi said. —NB, GMA Integrated News