The China Red Cross Society will provide $50,000 of humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit its southern region and killed at least eight people on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday.

"The Chinese government is willing to offer assistance to the Philippines' disaster relief work," Geng told a daily press conference, adding that Foreign Minister Wang Yi has sent a telegraph of condolence to Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay.

"We believe that the people in earthquake-hit areas can overcome difficulties, and return to normal work and life at an early date under the leadership of the Philippine government," he said.

The China-Philippine relationship, which hit turbulence under the previous Philippine government, saw an overall improvement after the new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China in October.