By Ling Dequan, researcher with Center for World Affairs Studies,  Xinhua News Agency

Rodrigo Duterte, former mayor of Davao, has won the election to become the next President of the Philippines as the nation's House and Senate are set to declare the official results in early June.

On May 9, the Philippines held its once-in-six-years elections to vote for a new president, vice president, congress members, magistrates, and local senators.

People want change, but hard to get

The Philippines has been ruled by wealthy clans for a long time. Many presidential candidates come from such clans but this was not the case for 71-year-old Duterte.

The different domestic and foreign policies Duterte proposed have enhanced his image, since he's dubbed the "Philippines Trump." The election illustrates a yearning for change that Filipinos seek. The Philippines faces rampant criminal cases, corruption, and poverty/wealth disparity, recognized as malignant tumors since Benito Aquino III had served as the country's President.

Dealing with domestic issues will be the first task for Duterte But, fulfilling his campaigning promises will not be easy.

There are uncertainties whether he could get the situation under control, since some retired generals claimed they would launch a coup if Duterte won the election. In diplomatic relations, Duterte has to deal with complicated matters such as territorial disputes.

The US is the Philippines' ally and holds enormous influence over its political direction, diplomatic policy, military and economic affairs. Yet, Aquino III's pro-American policies did not benefit ordinary Filipinos.

Friendly cooperation is correct path

The biggest challenge for China-Philippines relations is the dispute in the South China Sea. Aquino III has adopted a radical approach, whereas Duterte proposes to negotiate with Beijing to put aside disputes and seek common development.

The dispute over the South China Sea is a legacy of history. In the 1980s, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping set guidelines to settle the conflict during a meeting with the then-vice president Laurel and President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines.

Deng suggested a mutually beneficial solution, and asked Manila to play a positive role to promote a strategic vision of "putting aside the disputes, pursuing common development."

On March 14, 2005, China, Philippines and Vietnam reached an agreement to conduct a joint seismic survey in the disputed waters. Nevertheless, the truce was broken during Aquino's administration. The South China Sea dispute has escalated to create a serious rift between the two nations.

Manila had unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China over maritime dispute in the South China Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The move betrayed the agreement and breached the "Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea" that resulted in a deterioration of China-Philippines relation.It is better for the doer to undo what he has done.

People look forward to the Duterte administration, which places priority on goodwill with Beijing, so both sides can return to a cooperative path in line with people's wish that enhances Asia's peaceful climate.

China and Philippines are "close neighbors and relatives", and their friendship has run deep via the maritime Silk Road since ancient times.Business interactions and cultural exchanges had inspired many southern Chinese to immigrate to the Philippines where they had fought against Japanese fascist aggression and helped to develop the Philippines as a more formidable nation.

China persists in building good-neighborly relationships and carries on "closeness, honesty, mutual benefits and tolerance" to deal with differences and disputes between the two nations, so as to build, negotiate and share together the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Future cooperation between China and the Philippines appear bright.

 Ling Dequan, researcher with Center for World Affairs Studies,  Xinhua News Agency

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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