May 19 ------ Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and the Philippines should “write a grand story” on the relationship between the two countries under the administration of presumptive Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a Chinese envoy said.
In a Facebook post, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said Xi and Marcos Jr. had a phone conversation on May 18, and talked about bilateral ties and regional development. According to Huang, President Xi congratulated Marcos Jr. again on his election as President of the Philippines and called the presumptive leader a supporter of China-Philippines friendship. “He stressed that Mr. Marcos has participated in and witnessed the development of China-Philippines relations, calling Mr. Marcos a builder, supporter, and promoter of the China-Philippines friendship,” he said.
Xi likewise urged both countries to carry forward the friendship between the two sides and stay true to their original aspiration. “President Xi said the two countries should also grasp the general trend, write a grand story on the China-Philippines friendship in the new era and follow through the blueprint for bilateral friendly cooperation so as to usher in an even brighter future for the bilateral ties,” Huang said.
This was not the first time Xi congratulated Marcos Jr. for his impending victory in the 2022 national elections. Marcos Jr. got over 31 million votes during the elections on May 9. President Xi first congratulated Marcos Jr. on May 12, saying he is ready to develop a good working relationship with the incoming administration. “In recent years, with the joint efforts from both sides, the China-Philippines relationship has been strengthened and elevated, bringing benefits to the peoples of our two countries and making contributions to regional peace and stability,” Xi’s letter read. “I highly value the development of China-Philippines relations. I am ready to build a good working relationship with you to preserve our good neighborliness, work for common development and deepen our Relationship of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation so as to bring benefits to our two countries and two peoples,” it added.
Source: mb.com.ph