Incoming Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday described China's Xi Jinping "a great president", in another hint that frosty relations between the Asian neighbours could soon warm.
Duterte heaped the praise on Xi in a news conference in response to questions about a message the Chinese president sent to congratulate him on winning this month's election.
But the longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao, who has been criticised for lacking foreign policy experience, appeared unsure of Xi's title.
"I was honoured, receiving a congratulatory message from a great president, uh prime minister," Duterte said.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Monday that Xi wrote to Duterte after his victory, a standard diplomatic tradition for heads of state.
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