Bongbong Marcos meets China’s top envoy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pays a courtesy call on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Screengrab from RTVM livestream

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first foreign top diplomat to be received by the new administration.

Wang, alongside other Chinese delegates, paid a courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañang.

“I am grateful to Minister Wang Yi for extending the message of congratulations and support from President Xi Jinping,” Marcos said in a tweet.

“We also discussed agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and our commitment to maintaining the strong relationship between our peoples in the coming years,” the President added.

Wang was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was also present during the courtesy call.

Manalo and Wang earlier had a bilateral meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) headquarters in Pasay City.

During the meeting, Manalo described China as having been a “good friend and close partner” of the Philippines in its COVID-19 recovery efforts.

“There is no doubt that the security situation surrounding our countries and our region has become more complex, as political, economic and socio-cultural landscapes continually shift. We also find ourselves rebuilding after the pandemic, which has ravaged our economies and as well as our efforts to reach development goals, such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” Manalo told Wang.

READ: DFA’s Manalo meets with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi

“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 respective nations,” he added.

/MUF/abc/KGA