BY ASHZEL HACHERO and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
CHINESE State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday said the relationship between China and the Philippines has “turned a new page” with President Marcos Jr. at the helm in Manila, as he expressed appreciation Marcos’ commitment to pursue a friendly policy towards China.
Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo at the DFA main office in Pasay City.
“With President Marcos being elected, China-Philippine relationship has turned a new page. We highly appreciate President Marcos’ recent commitment to pursuing a friendly policy toward China and we speak highly of his latest statements that has sent a very positive signal to the outside world,” Wang said.
Marcos, who met with Wang later in Malacañang, said they reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to strengthen ties and pursue more areas of cooperation.
Marcos said they discussed “agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and our commitment to maintaining the strong relationship between our peoples in the coming years.”
Photos of the meeting were uploaded last night on Marcos’ Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Wang’s visit took place a week before the sixth anniversary of the 2016 ruling of the Netherlands-based Permanent Court which junked China’s massive claim in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
Beijing does not recognize the ruling and has been insisting on bilateral talks to address the dispute.
Marcos on Tuesday, he said he would tell Wang that the relations of the Philippines and China should not be limited to the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea dispute as there are other areas of cooperation between the two countries that can be pursued.
Also on Tuesday, Marcos said he is open to military exchanges with China as he sought ways to defuse tension and expand bilateral ties despite the irritant of the South China Sea maritime territorial dispute.
Last month, Marcos called China the Philippines’ strongest partner and said ties and communications between the two countries would be enhanced.
Wang yesterday said Beijing is ready to work with Manila to further strengthen bilateral ties.
China was among the first to congratulate Marcos on his winning the May 9 presidential race over then Vice President Leni Robredo, who is seen as more aligned with Western or US views.
Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, sought and maintained close ties with Beijing and try to paper over the territorial dispute in return for Chinese aid and investments, especially of his Build, Build, Build infrastructure program.
Duterte even belittled Manila’ 2016 win in the Permanent Court of Arbitration which junked Beijing’s massive claim in the South China Sea, including the parts claimed by the former as West Philippine Sea, calling it a worthless piece of paper.
Beijing though was not able to break the relationship between Manila and Washington.
FRUITFUL EXCHANGES
Manalo told Wang he looks forward to fruitful exchanges on important matters between Manila and Beijing.
He also said Beijing has been a good friend of Manila and a partner in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts.
China has sent COVID-19 supplies, including personal protective equipment and vaccines, to help Manila in its efforts against the deadly virus.
“China has been a good friend and close partner of the Philippines in our recovery efforts and we have stood shoulder to shoulder in times of great difficulty, helping one another so that we may both bring progress to our people and nations,” Manalo said.
Wang is the first foreign affairs chief that Manalo met with since he assumed the post on July 1.
During their meeting, Manalo and Wang also unveiled a commemorative plaque for the launching of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project, a flagship project under Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program and a key government-to-government cooperation project between Manila and Beijing worth approximately $400 million.
The bridge will reduce travel time from only five minutes from 26-30 minutes.
Wang and Manalo also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Providing Financial Services to Promote Cooperation between the Stock Exchanges of the Philippines and China.
Ramon Monzon, president and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange, and Deng Jun, country head of the Manila Branch of the Bank of China (Hong Kong), signed agreement the which seeks to promote bilateral investment and trade through capital market linkages between the Philippines and China.
