Xi congratulates BBM, hails support for China-Phl ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping called Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday to congratulate him on his apparent landslide victory in the Philippine presidential election, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.

Xi and Marcos discussed strengthening the bilateral ties between China and the Philippines as well as regional development, according to its Embassy in Manila.

The Chinese leader stressed that the next Philippine Chief Executive has “participated in and witnessed the development of China-Philippines relations.”

Xi called the former senator a “builder, supporter and promoter of the China-Philippines friendship.”

“Citing a Philippine saying ‘If you do not know where you have come from, you cannot go far,’ Xi urged both countries to carry forward the friendship of the two sides and stay true to their original aspiration,” the Chinese embassy said.

Xi urged Marcos to be one with China in grasping the “general trend” and “write a grand story on the China-Philippines friendship in the new era and follow through the blueprint for bilateral friendly cooperation.”

In this way, Xi said, “an even brighter future for the bilateral ties” will be achieved.

This is Xi’s second time congratulating Marcos for winning the 10-way contest for the top, defeating nine other Palace hopefuls, including his archrival, Vice President Leni Robredo.

Only three days after the national elections, the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian delivered to Marcos a congratulatory note from Xi and his Vice President Wang Qishan.

In the note, it stated that the Chinese government looks forward to working with the next Philippine administration, particularly in upgrading their “Relationship of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation to a new height and bring more tangible benefits” to Filipinos and Chinese.

China, moreover, has “no doubt” that Marcos’ presidency would pave the way for stronger China-Philippines relations.