Marcos to new envoy: Hope to make PH-China relations ‘stronger, deeper’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday told the newly designated ambassador of China that he looks forward to managing the differences between the two countries.

Marcos made the remarks during the presentation of credentials of the newly designated ambassadors of Chile and China in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace.

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During the ceremony, the President received the letters of credence of His Excellency Felipe Alejandro Diaz Ibañez from the Republic of Chile, and His Excellency Jing Quan from the People’s Republic of China.

“I’m sure that there will be many opportunities for us to make the relationship between our two countries stronger, deeper and more important as the years go by,” Marcos told the Chinese envoy, as quoted in a press release from the Presidential Communications Office.

He replaced Huang Xilian, who ended his six-year diplomatic mission to the country last September.

“I look forward to working with you in managing the differences and intensifying the cooperation between our two countries. Our differences should be the exception in our ties rather than the norm,” the President added.

Meanwhile, Marcos said he is happy that Diaz returned to the Philippines after previously serving as consul at the Embassy of Chile in the Philippines from 2003 to 2008.

“We are happy that an old friend of the Philippines has returned and the long and very fine relationship between our two countries will continue, and we would continue to promote an even longer and even closer relationship between our two countries,” Marcos told Diaz.

Ambassadors officially begin their diplomatic tenure by presenting credentials, a formal act that highlights a shared commitment to boost bilateral ties and foster international cooperation.

The Philippines formalized its diplomatic relations with Chile in 1946, and with China in 1975. /mr