Philippines’ top diplomat to Beijing, Erlinda Basilio, called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday and presented her credentials as ambassador to China.
During her conversation with Xi, Basilio, in a bid to normalize ties with Beijing that was marred by a bitter territorial conflict over the South China Sea territories, conveyed President Benigno Aquino III’s message of friendship and desire “to restore bilateral relations to their previous excellent state, and move them to even greater heights.”