Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while answering questions during a news conference upon arrival from a trip to Myanmar and Thailand at an international airport in Manila, Philippines March 23, 2017. Romeo Ranoco, Reuters

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday defended Manila's relationship with Beijing anew, and lauded the assistance given to his anti-narcotics campaign.

In a speech during the Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, the President said China is a better ally than the United States, and recalled the help given by Chinese tycoons in building the 10,000-bed "mega" rehabilitation center for recovering drug addicts in Nueva Ecija.

"China is good to us. America is our friend but they abandoned us...The Americans are characterized as the monkey riding your back," he said in a mix of English and Visayan.

Duterte explained that he simply wants to "make friends" and develop trade with China to boost the Philippine economy.

"China is my neighbor. I just want to make friends and trade so that my people will be happy and we can improve the country," he said.

The President also lauded the presence of Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua at the festival, and said the latter's attendance was "very special and meaningful" as he will open doors for better diplomatic relations with China and other countries.

In a separate speech, Duterte revealed that China offered to build 2 bridges over the Pasig River for free.

Zhao last month said, Duterte will visit Beijing for the second time for a multilateral summit in May.

He said President Duterte accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping's invitation to attend the "One Belt, One Road" summit, a high level gathering among leaders, to strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines.

Questions over the two countries' relationship were recently raised after a Chinese ship was spotted in Benham Rise, a vast area the United Nations has declared to be part of the Philippines' continental shelf.

Both however denied any brewing dispute, with China's Foreign Ministry describing the whole issue as having been "hyped up".