Romualdez: There’s ‘mutual respect’ between Marcos Jr., Xi on maritime issues

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with House Speaker Martin Romualdez. FILE

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said the recently concluded meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping was highly successful even as they discussed an array of topics that included the maritime claims of both countries.

Romualdez said both leaders have “mutual respect” for each other.

“The President was able to personally convey to President Xi Jinping the concerns of the Filipino: the fishery issues, the maritime claim issues—these very sensitive issues. But it was brought up … in an atmosphere of mutual respect and equality,” Romualdez said upon returning from the China state visit where he was part of the Philippine delegation.

“And that’s why this state visit was so successful because we could see the rapport, the personal exchanges between the two presidents,” he added.

Sincerity, he said, was very evident in both heads of state and this will “go a long way in addressing all these issues, whether they be contentious or not, moving forward.”

Meanwhile, Marcos has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, First Lady Peng Liyuan, to visit the Philippines.

READ: Marcos Jr. invites Xi Jinping to visit the Philippines

“After this state visit, our President invited President Xi Jinping and his wife first lady, First Lady Peng Liyuan, to come to the Philippines,” Romualdez said.

“You can see that there was chemistry right from the start,” Romualdez added.

Romualdez said the China state visit also opened doors for interparliamentary cooperation and exchanges between the two countries’ congresses.

“We have many, many areas of agreement, so we want to further strengthen that by direct engagement at the various levels,” Romualdez added.

JPV