EDITORIALNo need to monetize or pad a state visit to prove its meritsBy The Manila Timeshome/Opinion/Editorial/No need to monetize or pad a state visit to prove its meritsCan 29 signed agreements and the palpable rapport between President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping pass as a worthy harvest from the two-day state visit of the Chinese leader to the Philippines? The bean counters among us will seek to monetize the visit to prove that welcoming or cheering Mr. Xi was worth the effort and the holiday declared by one city government. In fact, these are not the most reliable yardsticks for evaluating the success or shortcomings of a state visit. The state visit of a head of state to another nation is essentially the highest expression of diplomatic relations between two states. With over a thousand years of history in their relations, there is truly much to value in our bilateral relations.

Source: Manila Times November 22, 2018 16:30 UTC