Duterte thanks Xi, dismisses 'Made in China' rumors

President Rodrigo Duterte thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping during a coronavirus briefing on April 14.

Duterte received a note from Xi expressing support for the Philippines and acknowledging what the country did to help China early in the pandemic.

Duterte dismissed theories that COVID-19 was invented in China, stating that no one would want to create a microbe to kill humanity.

He emphasized the Philippines' strong relationship with China, suggesting that if the virus originated there, it wouldn't be a problem for bilateral support.