Philippines' Marcos wants China ties to 'shift to higher gear' under his presidency

Philippines President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he held "very substantial" talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. PHOTO: REUTERS

MANILA (REUTERS) - Philippines President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday (May 18) said his country's relations with China will expand and shift to a higher gear under his administration, and Beijing had assured him of its support for his "independent foreign policy".

Mr Marcos Jr, who won last week's Philippines election by a landslide, said he held "very substantial" talks by phone on Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who agreed to hold more comprehensive discussions of issues.

The 64-year-old son and namesake of the notorious former Philippines dictator said Mr Xi also acknowledged his late father's role in opening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"The way forward is to expand our relationship, not only diplomatic, not only trade, but also in culture, even in education, even in knowledge, even in health to address whatever minor disagreements that we have right now," said Mr Marcos Jr in a statement.

"I told him, we must not allow what conflicts or difficulties we have now between our two countries to become historically important."

The Philippines and China have had a rocky relationship in recent years over Beijing's vast territorial claims and actions of its coast guard and fishing fleets in the South China Sea, through which at least US$3.4 trillion (S$4.7 trillion) of annual trade passes.

Their phone conversation focused on bilateral ties and regional development, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a separate statement.

Mr Marcos Jr won the presidency with nearly 59 per cent of the votes last week. He will take office in late June.

Many analysts expect him to seek stronger ties with Beijing, continuing outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte's policy of rapprochement, while maintaining close relations with defence ally and former colonial power the United States.

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