Presidents Bongbong Marcos of the Philippines and Xi Jinping of China will hold a bilateral meeting on 17 November on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok, Malacañang announced.

Prior to his attendance at the ASEAN Summits in Cambodia last week, Marcos said the thorny territorial dispute involving the West Philippine Sea is a top agenda if he gets to meet with Xi.

He said it includes the immediate adoption of a binding code of conduct in the waters traditionally known as the South China Sea, noting, however, that involved parties must first agree on a status quo.

At the ASEAN-East Asia Summit, Marcos reiterated his call to make the South China Sea a place of peace, security, stability, and prosperity and not an area of armed conflict or geopolitical discord.

Aside from meeting with Chinese officials, Marcos is likewise attending the APEC CEO Summit and joining his counterparts at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Gala Dinner.