Just after New Year's Day, Philippine President Marcos became the first foreign leader to visit China in the new year.
On January 4, President Xi Jinping held talks with him. This was the second meeting between the two heads of state after their meeting in Bangkok, Thailand last November.
President Xi told Marcos that he hopes that your visit to China will not only be a "journey of nostalgia", but also a "journey of pioneering".
What kind of relationship does Marcos have with China, how the two heads of state plan the future development of China-Philippines relations, and what important achievements have been achieved in the first visit of the new year?
"Current Affairs News Eye" will analyze it for you.
01
"Nostalgic Journey" Relive the Story
Marcos and his family have a deep love for China and have made great contributions to promoting China-Philippines friendship.
In 1974, at the age of 17, Marcos visited China with his mother, paving the way for a major event between China and the Philippines.
In 1975, Marcos' father and the older generation of Chinese leaders had insight into the current situation and complied with the general trend, and jointly made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines.
△On the evening of January 3, 2023, Marcos arrived in Beijing by special plane.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Yang Xinyu)
In May last year, Marcos was elected president of the Philippines.
President Xi Jinping called to congratulate him immediately, and talked to him on the phone a few days later.
During that phone call, President Xi told Marcos that you have personally participated in and witnessed the development of China-Philippines relations, and you are a builder, supporter and promoter of China-Philippines friendship.
Marcos also fondly recalled his friendly exchanges with China during the phone call.
△Beijing Capital International Airport, 36 soldiers of honor stood with guns.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Li Zengren)
This new year's first visit is Marcos' first visit to China since he took office as president, and also his first official visit to a country outside ASEAN since he took office.
△That night, the motorcycle team cleared the way for Marcos.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Yao Yao)
At the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, the two heads of state once again recalled the good story 48 years ago.
Marcos said, "I am honored to have participated in the history of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China. Today I will shoulder the important responsibility of continuing to promote the traditional friendship between the Philippines and China."
President Xi said, "No matter how the international situation or the Philippine domestic political situation changes, you and your family have the same original intention and are determined to promote the friendship between China and the Philippines. This friendship is invaluable."
02
"Journey of Creation" Carrying on the past and ushering in the future
During this meeting, President Xi Jinping said to Marcos that he hopes that your visit to China will not only be a "journey of nostalgia", but also a "journey of pioneering".
Marcos said that I hope to prove to the world through this visit that the relationship between the Philippines and China is very good and important. Both sides attach great importance to each other's relationship and are committed to elevating the relationship between the Philippines and China to a new height.
From the expectation of "creating a journey" to the announcement of "elevating to a new height", they all show the sincerity and determination of China and the Philippines to open up the future.
△Beijing, the Great Hall of the People.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Zhao Hua)
In May last year, when President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Marcos, he quoted a famous saying from the Philippines, "If you don't know where you came from, you can't go far."
He said that we must inherit the friendship between China and the Philippines, stay true to our original aspirations, grasp the general trend, write a great article on China-Philippines friendship in the new era, and "draw a blueprint to the end" for China-Philippines friendly cooperation.
△Marcos' convoy is about to arrive at the Great Hall of the People.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Lu Hongyu)
More than a month ago, President Xi met with Marcos on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
He pointed out again that China is willing to inherit friendship with the Philippines, continue cooperation, and work together for national development and revitalization, so as to write a new chapter in China-Philippines friendship.
Marcos also made it clear that the new Philippine government will take the Philippine-China relationship as a key direction of foreign policy and look forward to building a more stable and strong bilateral relationship.
△ Panoramic perspective to see the scene before the welcome ceremony.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Wang Ce)
In November 2018, when President Xi visited the Philippines, the two countries unanimously decided to establish a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between China and the Philippines.
Marcos' visit to China opened a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between China and the Philippines.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents related to the "Belt and Road Initiative", agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, finance, customs, e-commerce, tourism, etc.
During Marcos' visit to China, the two sides will also issue the "Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines."
△The inspection desk at the welcome ceremony.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Shi Cheng)
03
"Four Beams and Eight Pillars" Pragmatic Cooperation
In May last year, when President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with President Marcos, they reached a series of important consensus on the development of China-Philippines relations in the new era. The two sides established four key areas of cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
When receiving Marcos’ first visit in the new year, President Xi pointed out that the two sides have established four key areas of cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Point, to create new highlights.
△The scene before the meeting started.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Shi Cheng)
In the field of agricultural cooperation, more and more Philippine fruits have been put on the tables of Chinese people.
President Xi expressed his willingness to help the agricultural and rural development of the Philippines and continue to expand the import of high-quality agricultural and fishery products from the Philippines.
In the field of infrastructure cooperation, President Xi said that it is necessary to implement "hard" infrastructure cooperation in key projects, and to expand cooperation in "soft" infrastructure such as telecommunications, big data, and e-commerce.
△The national flags of China and the Philippines at the meeting site.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Shi Cheng)
In the field of energy cooperation, President Xi said that China and the Philippines have complementary advantages in cooperation in traditional fossil energy and clean energy.
China is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues with the Philippines through friendly consultations, restart negotiations on oil and gas development, promote cooperation in oil and gas development in non-disputed areas, and carry out cooperation in green energy such as photovoltaics, wind energy, and new energy vehicles.
During the meeting in Bangkok not long ago, Marcos said that I have always advocated that maritime issues should not define the entire Philippines-China relationship, and the two sides can further strengthen communication on this.
During the Beijing talks, he once again stressed that the Philippines is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultations and restart oil and gas development consultations with China.
In the field of people-to-people and cultural cooperation, when President Xi met with Marcos in Bangkok, he said that the two sides should take more practical measures to intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate the foundation of China-Philippines friendship and public opinion.
During the talks in Beijing, he pointed out that China is actively optimizing and adjusting epidemic prevention measures, and more scientifically coordinates epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. It is believed that the people of the two countries can return to the close exchanges before the epidemic.
Marcos said that it is expected that after the epidemic, more Chinese people will travel to the Philippines for tourism and study, and the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will be closer, laying a more solid foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations.
President Xi pointed out many times that China and the Philippines are close neighbors who have been in contact for thousands of years, and good-neighborly friendship and win-win cooperation are the only correct choices for both sides.
During this meeting, he hopes that China and the Philippines will be good neighbors who help each other, good relatives who know each other, and good partners who cooperate and win-win, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute more to regional peace and stability. energy.
Marcos said that China is the strongest cooperative partner of the Philippines, and nothing can stop the continuation and development of the friendship between the Philippines and China.
△On the evening of January 4, 2023, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for Marcos and his wife Lisa in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
(Photographed by CCTV reporters Cheng Cheng and Li Zengren)
04
Strategic independence builds a high ground
As Asian developing countries and Asian emerging market economies, China-Philippines cooperation not only brings benefits to the two peoples, but also shoulders greater responsibilities.
When meeting with Marcos in Bangkok more than a month ago, President Xi said that China and the Philippines should adhere to strategic independence, adhere to peace, openness, and inclusiveness, grasp the general direction of regional cooperation, work together to resist unilateralism and bullying, and jointly maintain fairness and justice. Safeguard regional peace and stability.
△On the evening of January 4, 2023, the national flags of China and the Philippines fluttered on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing.
(Photographed by CCTV reporter Liu Qi)
During the Beijing talks, President Xi pointed out that China is willing to focus on cooperation and development with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries, maintain the centrality of ASEAN in regional cooperation, promote the construction of the "five major homes", and help the region get rid of the shadow of the Cold War and avoid camps Confrontation continues to be a high ground for development and prosperity.
Marcos said that I look forward to maintaining close communication with President Xi Jinping, better cooperating to solve the challenges and problems faced by the two countries, and making new contributions to promoting the region to become an important engine of the world economy again.
In November 2018, on the eve of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines, he published a signed article in the local media, citing a Filipino proverb: "Seize today so that you will not lose tomorrow."
If we seize today, stand together through thick and thin, and go hand in hand, the "Philippines" will usher in a new "golden age" for the usual China-Philippines relations.