The Philippines will continue to work with China to ensure regional peace and stability, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, as well as to keep vibrant trade and economic activity, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.
The President made the remarks when asked by reporters about the current Philippines-China relationship under his administration.
“We continue to foster the friendship, the relationship, the partnership that we have been developing with China since 1974 and 1975 when it became official. So that’s how I describe it,” Marcos said in an interview after attending the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) Award Ceremony at the Manila Hotel.
“It is a continuing search to find solutions to the challenges that we face jointly with China. Now, of course, as to the differences between China and the Philippines, certainly they exist but it is not something that will define our relationship,” he said.
Marcos said the Philippines looks at China as a partner in an effort to keep the peace and to maintain vibrant regional trade.
In terms of strengthening the relationship between China and the Philippines, Marcos said the process has begun after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in January, where they developed strategies for better communication, as well as understanding about fishing grounds.
“All of these things are continuing and we, perhaps soon, we will be able to report. And this is the way that we strengthen this relationship that we have with China,” he said.
The private sector is also playing a major role in building better relationship, Marcos said, noting the opportunities opened by China to the Philippines especially to Filipino corporations.
In general, those things are important to the Philippines and that’s why that continues, Marcos pointed out, noting that despite the thorny issues between the two nations, the relationship will not be defined by the differences but by common areas of interest, beliefs and cultural similarities.
“I think that is a very fertile ground to build, to plant our relationship and keep it growing,” the President said. (PND)
