MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Friday thanked the Chinese Coast Guard for the rescue of two Filipino fishermen near the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) coordinated with the Chinese Coast Guard to help in the search operations of the missing Filipino fishermen.
He said the PCG received information on Thursday night that the Filipino fishermen had been rescued and the Chinese Coast Guard transferred the two to a Philippine patrol ship Friday afternoon.
"We thank the Chinese Coast Guard for the assistance. This act demonstrates that the Philippines-China relationship is now back on friendly footing after the recent successful visit of President (Rodrigo) Duterte to China, and we expect the ties between the two countries to further improve in the years ahead," Andanar said.
