Marcos promises more investments, seeks resolution of issues with China in state visit

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3)— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in China on Tuesday for a state visit — a trip he hopes would lead to more investments for the Philippines as well as a resolution of issues with the East Asian giant.

In a statement before his flight, Marcos said he aims to open a “new chapter” in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Topics he is expected to discuss with Chinese leaders include agriculture, energy, science and technology, and political security.

“I look forward to discussing political-security issues of a bilateral and regional nature,” the President said.

“The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends such as Philippines and China,” he also said, without expounding.

“We will seek to resolve those issues to mutual benefit of our two countries,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that the South China Sea dispute will be among the issues to be addressed during Marcos’ visit to Beijing, which is slated from Jan. 3 to 5.

The two nations are expected to ink a deal to improve communication and avoid misunderstanding over the contested waterway.

READ: PH, China to sign deal to avoid miscommunication over West PH Sea – DFA

Meanwhile, Marcos also confirmed that the government expects to sign over 10 key bilateral agreements covering different areas such as trade, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, investments and maritime security cooperation.

The chief executive will also be holding meetings with representatives of the private sector to boost trade and investment relations.

“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,” he said.

Marcos’ trip to China will be his seventh overseas travel as Philippine president, and his first bilateral visit to a country outside of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.