Bongbong Marcos departs for China for 3-day state visit

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday departed the country to go to China for a three-day state visit during which the two countries are expected to strengthen trade and investment ties, as well as address security issues of mutual concern.

The presidential plane left the Maharlika Villamor Airbase in Pasay City around 1:30 p.m., after Marcos delivered his departure statement and was given departure honors by troops.

In his speech, Marcos vowed to pursue initiatives in key areas such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, as well as trade and investment.

“As I leave for Beijing, I will be opening a new chapter in our comprehensive strategic cooperation with China. We will seek to foster meaningful relation and broaden our cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, science and technology, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges, amongst others,” he said.

He said he looks forward to meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussing political-security issues of a “bilateral and regional nature” to resolve problems between their two nations.

Marcos said the Philippines is expected to ink more than 10 key bilateral agreements with China, which will be on top of the over 100 existing agreements between the two countries.

Resumption of tourism, cultural cooperation

The President also said he will push for the resumption of tourism and cultural cooperation between the Philippines and China, especially as the former is further easing COVID-19 restrictions.

“As our doors open up in the new normal, I will invite our Chinese neighbors to once again return to the Philippines as tourists, as students, investors,” he said.

“Aside from sharing the wonders of our archipelago with our Chinese friends, strengthened people-to-people exchanges will allow us to bridge gaps in understanding between our two countries at every level,” Marcos added.

He also said he would also pursue strengthening trade and investment relations with China, and key private sector representatives will join him to boost the country’s economy.

“I hope to return home to the Philippines with a harvest of agreements and investments that will benefit our countrymen and further strengthen the foundation of our economic environment,” Marcos said.

He also vowed to continue pursuing initiatives in priority areas to ensure food security, sufficient and stable energy, and programs on the sustainable digital economy.

Accompanying the President were First Lady Liza Marcos, House Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Tourism Christina Frasco, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy, and other Cabinet secretaries.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), about 10 to 14 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during Marcos’ visit.

These agreements will be about trade and investments, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, and maritime security cooperation.

The state visit is also expected to “reaffirm the cordial and neighborly relations” between Manila and Beijing and “build on the growing trade and investment ties between the two economies, as well address security issues of mutual concern,” the DFA said.

On Wednesday, Jan. 4, Marcos will have meetings lined up with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and finally, his Chinese counterpart – President Xi Jinping.

According to the DFA, Xi will host a dinner banquet for the Philippine delegation after meeting with Marcos.

This will be the two leaders’ second meeting after they met in Thailand last November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

During Marcos’ visit, the Philippine delegation is also expected to pursue a memorandum of understanding with China on digital cooperation and a bilateral agreement on tourism cooperation.

The two countries are also seen to ink an agreement forging a direct communication line between both nations in a bid “to avoid miscalculation and miscommunication in the West Philippine Sea.”

READ: PH, China seen to establish direct line ‘to avoid miscommunication’ on WPS issues 

According to the DFA, other points on the agenda of the Philippine delegation in China are securing possible grants, establishing a framework agreement for three priority bridge construction projects, and renewing the Philippines’ participation in the Belt and Road Initiative of China.

An agreement on the importation of durian is also expected to be finalized.

READ: Things to expect from Marcos Jr.’s China visit: ‘Durian diplomacy,’ talks on WPS, others

The President pushed through with the state visit despite China’s fresh surge of COVID-19 cases.

This is his first state visit to a country not belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since he assumed office in June 2022.

READ: Marcos’ China state visit to push through despite new COVID-19 surge