Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping | REUTERS file photo
MANILA, Philippines – After his three-day state visit to China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he has invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a visit to the Philippines.
Marcos, upon his arrival in Manila, thanked Xi and the Chinese government for “the opportunity to reaffirm and deepen the friendship between our two countries and to explore avenues for cooperation that are mutually beneficial.”
“I do not believe this will be the last visit that we will be making to China, and we are anticipating, as I continually reiterated, an invitation President Xi and Madame Peng [Liyan] to come to the Philippines and visit us on, perhaps, a state visit [or] official visit in the future,” he said in a speech.
Marcos also noted that he and Xi had an “in-depth and frank discussion on the West Philippine Sea.”
“We took note of our growing maturity of this bilateral relationship – this bilateral relationship which now allows both sides to manage differences on the West Philippine Sea, so as not to allow it to hinder the rest of our fruitful engagements and multi-faceted cooperation,” he said.
China’s sweeping claims in nearly all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea–waters within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone–have been souring ties between both nations for decades.
READ: Marcos: China vows solution to plight of Filipino fishermen in West Philippine Sea
Marcos told Xi that his administration is open to cooperating with China to pursue an independent foreign policy that upholds regional peace and serves both nations’ interests.
“We agreed that maritime issues between the two countries do not comprise the entirety of our relations, but we acknowledge as well that they remain a significant concern and priority for the Philippines and for the region,” he added.
Marcos showcased the direct communication the Department of Foreign Affairs established with its Chinese counterpart, allowing agencies to foster existing bonds further and build trust between the two nations.
READ: Manila, Beijing to set up ‘hotline’ on maritime row
Earlier, Marcos said Xi has vowed to find a compromise to ensure that Filipino fisherfolk can resume fishing in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Marcos: China vows solution to plight of Filipino fishermen in West Philippine Sea
Fisher’s group Pamalakaya has since asserted that there is no room for compromise in the West Philippine Sea, because the country already has “legal and political claim over our territorial waters.”
“There can only be one solution: China must abide by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea that recognizes our exclusive economic zone,” it said.
Marcos and his Philippine delegation returned to the country late Thursday afternoon.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, 14 bilateral deals had been signed throughout their state visit to China from Jan. 3 to 5.