On November 21st, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Philippines and met Filipino Speaker of the House of Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President of the Senate Vicente Sotto III.
President Xi called on the two countries’ legislative bodies to further exchange of experiences in state governance and pursue multilevel cooperation, thus strengthening bilateral ties between China and the Philippines.
During the Wednesday’s meeting, Xi Jinping expressed hope that Philippines’ legislature will play a bigger role in promoting the two countries’ friendship. Xi added that the countries stand at a historic starting point, and possess the prospect for broad development.
Xi told Speaker Arroyo and Senate President Sotto, “we must continue on this right path, deepening practical cooperation and consolidating material basis of the bilateral ties. We must also increase interpersonal exchanges, cement public support, properly handle the South China Sea issue, proceed with the right direction to develop bilateral ties, and make good neighbors and partners who share prosperity”.
Xi also called for active support from the Philippines legislative bodies for cooperation in fields such as education, culture, and tourism.
In response, Arroyo and Sotto applauded the development of bilateral ties and expressed their willingness to step up exchanges with Chinese legislative bodies and further cooperate in all fields, for the benefit of the two countries’ citizens as well as to build a community with a shared future.
The Filipino leaders said that the two countries’ relationship has never been better and hoped to learn from China’s successful economic and social development.
A day earlier, President Xi and President of Philippines Rodrigo Duerte jointly announced to enhance strategic cooperation between the two states. The two leaders witnessed the signing of 29 contracts, including the MOU to cooperate on the development of oil and gas in the South China Sea.
BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr) |
