Marcos says to bring ties with China 'to a higher gear' in state visit

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivered a message after he arrived at Villamor Airbase in Manila on December 15, 2022.

STAR / KJ Rosales

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. left for China on Tuesday on a state visit that is expected to set the tone for relations with the regional giant in the coming years.

This is Marcos Jr.’s first foreign trip in 2023 and his first state visit to a non-ASEAN country, but his seventh overseas travel since he assumed office last year. He will be in China until Thursday, January 5, upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I look forward to my meeting with President Xi as we work towards shifting the trajectory of our relations to a higher gear that would hopefully bring numerous prospects and abundant opportunities for the peace and development to the peoples of both our countries," Marcos Jr. said in his predeparture speech on Tuesday.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/03/2235055/marcos-says-bring-ties-china-to-higher-gear-state-visit