Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr reviewing an honor guard during a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China January 4, 2023. Photo Credit: Reuters
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cited stable relations with China During a visit to Beijing in which he sought to reduce territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
after a tough fight COVID-19 post-pandemic, both countries are seeking to recharge investments in tourism and agriculture as well as bridges and other projects. However, disputes remain over islands and waters in the strategically important South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its sole possession.
Philippines: Incoming President Marcos Jr. will stand by South China Sea decision
In a video address released by his office on Wednesday, Mr Marcos said the sides discussed “what we can do to move forward, to avoid possible mistakes, misunderstandings that could create bigger problems than we already have”. “
Mr Marcos said he made the case for Filipino fishermen, who have been denied access to their traditional areas of operation by China’s navy and coast guard. “The president promised that we would make a compromise and find a solution that would be beneficial so that our fishermen would be able to fish again in their natural fishing grounds,” Mr. Marcos said.
A joint statement issued on January 5 said Xi and Mr Marcos “had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on the situation in the South China Sea, stressing that maritime issues between the two countries The sum total of relations is not included.” and agreed to properly manage differences through peaceful means,” according to the Chinese official. Xinhua News Agency,
“The two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the region and freedom of navigation over the South China Sea,” the statement said.
Accompanied by a large business delegation, Mr Marcos chaired meetings on Thursday to finalize trade and investment deals. China accounts for 20% of the Philippines’ foreign trade and is also a major source of foreign direct investment.
Chinese officials Xinhua News Agency The two sides “agreed to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultations” and resumed talks on oil and gas exploration.
Xi named agriculture, infrastructure, energy and culture as the four key areas of cooperation. He said China stands ready to assist the Philippines in agriculture and rural development, as well as in infrastructure and connectivity projects. Xinhua Reported.
Mr Marcos secured a commitment from Xi to address the Philippines’ trade deficit with China, his office said. The two sides are finalizing rules for importing the fruit from the Philippines, which Mr Marcos said would begin to balance trade.
The Philippine leader said that he is also looking forward to the return of Chinese tourists after the recovery of the COVID-19 situation in China. Last year, about 9,500 Chinese visited the Philippines, down from about 1.6 million before the pandemic.
In comments to the head of China’s formal legislature, Li Zhanshu, Mr Marcos said the two countries were “capable of facing the challenges and the various shocks that we are already beginning to feel now and will continue to feel in the next few years”. will continue.” ,
Beijing has ignored a 2016 ruling by a tribunal brought by the Philippines in The Hague that invalidated Beijing’s claims to the waterway.
Since then China has developed the disputed reefs into artificial islands with airplane runways and other structures, so they now resemble forward military bases.
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Recently, a Filipino military commander reported that the Chinese Coast Guard forcibly seized Chinese rocket debris that Philippine Navy personnel retrieved last month in the South China Sea.
China denies the forced seizure, saying that the Filipino sailors voluntarily handed over the wreckage. Mr Marcos did not say whether he had raised the issue in his meetings with Chinese leaders.