Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Rodrigo Duterte, after he was sworn in as the 16^th president of the Republic of the Philippines on Thursday.

China's news agency, Xinhua, reported that Xi sent a message to Duterte via diplomatic channels.

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China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei confirmed this during Thursday's daily press conference. He revealed that Xi told Duterte that the good-neighborly relationship between the two countries has lasted for a thousand years, and it is the right direction to take in the coming years.

Xi reportedly also told Duterte that he was willing to make efforts to promote the improvement of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

China's relationship with the Philippines under Duterte is likely to be the opposite of what it was during former President Benigno Aquino's reign. The former Philippines President was very critical of China's activities in the South China Sea and initiated a case in the United Nation's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) over the issue. President Xi omitted any mention of the strained relationship between the two countries under the Aquino's administration in his message to Duterte.

Since Duterte's election in May, China has been hoping that the new Philippine administration would drop the assertive stance of the past administration over the water disputes, The Diplomat reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement months ago that "We hope that the new government of the Philippines can work with us towards the same direction, properly deal with relevant disputes, and bring bilateral relations back to the track of sound development with concrete actions."

China is clearly hoping that the Philippines would abandon its case with the PCA over the South China Sea dispute. But with a ruling expected in less than two weeks, it may be too late for such a move.

Duterte said in a statement that if the ruling favors the Philippines, Manila would tread carefully and has no plans of waging a war with China.

TagsRodrigo Duterte, 16th president of the Philippines, Philippines, china, Chinese President Xi jinping, congratulatory message, sworn into office, South China Sea Dispute