(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of former President Fidel V. Ramos as special envoy to China, even as Malacanang said the former President would still continue to play a vital role in China-Philippine relations.
“I’d like to thank him for helping me and for being of the service of the nation even at his age,” Duterte said late Tuesday evening in Davao City.
Presidential communications chief Martin Andanar earlier said that the former President’s presence is still “invaluable.”
He said Ramos’ role in initially thawing the once icy relations between Manila and Beijing was important.
In a statement, Andanar said that Duterte appointed Ramos as “special envoy precisely because of his stature, credibility as our elderly statesman and his ability to break the ice with the Chinese government.”
“Moreover, it is not true that the former president can no longer have any role in our engagement with China. His stature and expertise are needed now, more than ever, to follow up and build on what President Duterte accomplished during his recent visit to China,” Andanar added.
Ramos submitted his resignation to Malacanang after heavily criticizing the administration of President Duterte for statements regarding its “separation from the United States.”
He also criticized the President on his refusal to have the Paris Agreement on climate change ratified.
