Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, January 4, that the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “is an important step in continuing the strong relationship between the Philippines and China”.
Benitez is part of the delegation of Marcos that arrived in China Tuesday evening for a three-day state visit.
“I am honored to be a part of the Philippine delegation to visit the People’s Republic of China.
The delegation, headed by our President and First Lady, was warmly received at the airport,” Benitez said.
This will be the first bilateral and official visit of President Marcos to China, he added.
Benitez said he hopes to attract Chinese investors and tourists to Bacolod during the trip.
The Philippines and China should build a strong partnership as they face multiple challenges in the future, Marcos said during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Kequiang on Wednesday.
During the meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Marcos underscored the importance of forging partnerships not only between China and the Philippines but also with other partners to build economies and transform societies amid current challenges, a report from his office said.
“It is very important that these partnerships continue to be strong, continue to be encouraged. And I think that will be the way forward to the mutual benefit of our countries,” Marcos told Li, adding he looks forward to meeting President Xi Jinping.
“We have many, many, many areas that we continue to have cooperations in. And I think that they should be encouraged because they are in the precise areas that are necessary to develop so that we are strong financially as a country, we are strong in our society, and we are strong in our partnerships with our friends and allies around the world,” Marcos said.*