Chinese President Xi Jinping affirmed his commitment Wednesday to work with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen Manila-Beijing relations, vowing to extend assistance to the Philippines in various areas such as in agriculture, energy and infrastructure.

“Mr. President, your current trip is a trip to honor history, but more importantly, it is to open up the future. I look forward to having discussions with you to carry forward the friendship and further promote [our] bilateral relationship,” President Xi said in his welcome remarks during his bilateral meeting with President Marcos.

“Together, let’s deepen cooperation and draw out a blueprint with China-Philippines cooperation in the new era. This way, we will bring more benefits to our people and contribute to peace and stability in the region,” he pointed out.

In his response, President Marcos said the Philippines and China should strengthen their partnership to make the two countries stable and strong and keep the region a driving force behind the new global economy.

In almost 50 years, he said China and the Philippines already established many partnerships in different areas of society, economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

“We are hoping that after the pandemic becomes more manageable, that we will not only return to the path that we were on before the pandemic but that we even build-up to greater heights… [in] our participation in joint programs and joint ventures together,” President Marcos said.

“And that this is one of my main goals that I hope to achieve as we are here in China and meeting with you, Your Excellency. We hope to achieve to further that relationship that we have,” President Marcos told President Xi.

The Filipino leader believes there are vast opportunities that the two nations can seize as the economies of the world and global economy change, which in the end, would certainly benefit the two countries.

The President also mentioned the continuing negotiation for the joint exploration between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which he said is very important to the Philippines.

“I really hope—I would very much like, as you have suggested, Mr. President, to be able to announce that we are continuing negotiations and that we hope that these negotiations will bear fruit because the pressure upon not only China, not only the Philippines but the rest of the world to move away from the traditional fronts of power,” President Marcos said.

As the two countries inked several agreements, President Xi vowed to assist the Philippines in developing the administration’s priority areas, such as agriculture, fisheries, energy, and infrastructure.

China has been the Philippines’ major trading partner, posting a total trade of $29.1 billion from January to September 2022. #