MANILA, July 6 (Xinhua) — Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday in Manila, where the two sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation and resolve their differences on the South China Sea issue through dialogue and communication.
The Philippine president said China is the Philippines’ biggest trading partner and most important development partner, and the two sides have started fruitful cooperation in various fields.
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the first country to provide vaccines and protective materials to the Philippines, Marcos said, adding that the Chinese side has also actively supported the “Build Build Build” of the Philippines and had greatly helped the Philippines to improve its basic infrastructure.
The Philippines hopes to continue advancing its bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of politics, economy, trade, education, culture and many other sectors to enrich its strategic cooperation. globally,” Marcos said.
He said the Philippines pursues an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and has always adhered to the one-China political principle. He added that the issue of the South China Sea does not occupy a central place in China-Philippines relations, and should not become an obstacle to cooperation between the two countries.
The Philippines is willing to communicate frankly with the Chinese side to find an amicable solution to this issue, which is the best way for the two countries to reach an understanding, Marcos said.
For his part, Wang Yi stressed that China-Philippines relations are making a new start, and China is ready to work together with the Philippine side to keep these relations on the path of friendship and Cooperation.
The two sides are determined to become good neighbors united by mutual support, genuine mutual understanding and close ties, and good partners committed to developing their mutually beneficial cooperation. This will promote their cooperation and usher in a “golden age” in their bilateral relations, Wang said.
While expressing China’s strong support for the new Philippine government, Wang said his country is ready to discuss with the Philippines to strengthen cooperation in the four key areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and human and cultural exchanges, in order to help the Philippines accelerate its development and revitalization, and to bring new concrete benefits to the Filipino people.
He said the cooperation between China and the Philippines far outweighs their maritime disputes, and no difference between the two countries is enough to define their relationship or hamper their cooperation.
On Wednesday, Wang also met with Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. The two parties expressed their willingness to deepen their pragmatic bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and human and cultural exchanges. End
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