On September 7, 2016 local time, when attending the series of Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Vientiane of Laos, Premier Li Keqiang talked with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Rodrigo Duterte expressed the positive willingness to improve relations with China.

Li Keqiang noted that I am looking forward to joint efforts of the two sides to pull China-Philippines relations back to the normal track, so as to realize stable and healthy development. Rodrigo Duterte said that this is the principal he also adheres to.