Duterte says Philippines on 'best level of friendship' with China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that his country is on its "best level of friendship" with China.

Duterte, in a speech in Oriental Mindoro, an agricultural province in northern part of the country, said he has made the right decision to be friendly with China.

"I think I made the correct decision," he said, citing that the Philippine exports of bananas and pineapples to Beijing are "back at full normal, 100 percent."

He urged the Filipino farmers to grasp the opportunity so that their produce could be exported to China.

The president said that the increase of Philippine exports was to the credit of Chinese leader, "also the Chinese people, (as) they are really good. They are faithful friends."

"We are at our best level of friendship with China after I went there," he said, referring to his visit to China in October last year.

The president has said he would return to China in May to attend a Belt and Road summit in Beijing.