President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally received the newly designated ambassadors of Chile and China in a credential presentation ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Thursday.

The President welcomed His Excellency Felipe Alejandro Diaz Ibañez, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile, and His Excellency Jing Quan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, as they presented their letters of credence.

Marcos expressed eagerness to work closely with the new envoys, emphasizing the importance of fostering stronger bilateral relations.

“We are happy that an old friend of the Philippines has returned, and the long and very fine relationship between our two countries will continue. We will promote an even longer and closer relationship between our nations,” Marcos said in welcoming Ambassador Diaz.

Ambassador Diaz has a long history with the Philippines, having served as consul at the Embassy of Chile from 2003 to 2008.

Regarding China,Marcos highlighted the country’s significance as one of the Philippines’ key friends and partners.

“I’m sure that there will be many opportunities for us to make the relationship between our two countries stronger, deeper, and more important as the years go by,” he said.

“I look forward to working with you in managing our differences and intensifying our cooperation. Our differences should be the exception in our ties rather than the norm,” Marcos added. 

Both ambassadors have committed to dedicating their efforts to deepening bilateral cooperation and nurturing friendly relations with the Philippines.

Diplomatic protocol marks the presentation of credentials as the official start of an ambassador’s tenure, symbolizing a shared commitment to enhancing bilateral ties and international cooperation.

The Philippines established diplomatic relations with Chile in 1946 and with China in 1975, paving the way for decades of partnership in political, economic, and cultural spheres.