Marcos Seeks To Strengthen Economic Cooperation With China

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sought to expand and strengthen economic cooperation between the Philippines and China during a meeting with Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The Office of the Press Secretary said Marcos aims to pursue more engagements in trade and economy to help both countries recover from the pandemic.

“We have considered in the Philippines of primary importance to increase the relationship and to strengthen the relationship between China and the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Marcos suggested the two countries collaborate on projects in the education sector, trade and investment, and global partnerships.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the meeting with NPC Chairman Li was a “very positive engagement.” He added that Li wanted both countries to have high-level exchanges between China’s parliament and the Philippine congress.

“He feels and believes that our relations should be deepened and strengthened through our legislative bodies having active coordination and more engagements and meetings so that’s why we’ll look forward to the invitations that have actually been extended in previous years, but due to COVID, did not materialize,” Romualdez said.

Marcos and members of the Philippine delegation will be in China until January 5. Marcos is also set to meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese President Xi Jinping and is expected to sign 14 bilateral agreements during his visit.

Marcos said he also hoped to address “political security issues of a bilateral and regional nature.” 

Marcos emphasized that he will stand by the Philippines’ maritime rights in the area and ordered the military to boost its presence last month after reports of China reclaiming several unoccupied land features around Spratlys Island.

The Philippine government said both countries will sign a communication agreement to “avoid miscalculation and miscommunication in the West Philippine Sea.”

 “The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends,” Marcos said.

Source: Philstar