On July 6, 2022 local time, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was paying a visit to the Philippines upon invitation, in Manila.

Marcos said, first of all, I'd like to ask Wang Yi to convey my cordial greetings to President Xi Jinping and thank President Xi Jinping for appointing Vice President Wang Qishan to attend my inauguration ceremony. China is the Philippines' largest trading partner and important development partner. The two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China was the first to rush in with assistance and provide vaccines and protective supplies to help the Philippines safeguard people's lives. The Philippine side is sincerely grateful for that. China strongly supports the Philippines in advancing the "Build, Build, Build" program and plays an important role in improving its infrastructure. The Philippines hopes to continue pushing forward bilateral cooperation in politics, economy and trade, education, culture and other areas, so as to enrich the connotation of the strategic partnership.

Marcos said, the Philippines pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, and always adheres to the one-China principle. China is not only a neighbor, but also a partner and friend of the Philippines. The friendship between the two countries can only and must be further strengthened. The South China Sea issue is not the mainstream of the Philippines-China relationship and should not restrict or hinder bilateral cooperation. The Philippine side is willing to carry out candid communication with the Chinese side to find a friendly solution to the issue, which is the right way for the two countries to get along with each other. Only in this way can both sides achieve more results in bilateral cooperation and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to President Marcos, expecting that the two heads of state will chart the course and provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations. China-Philippines relations are at a new starting point and China is ready to work with the Philippine side to keep the general direction of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Both sides remain committed to becoming good neighbors that help each other, good relatives that share mutual understanding and enjoy close bonds, and good partners that pursue cooperation and win-win results, so as to push for the upgrading of bilateral cooperation and usher in a "golden age" in bilateral relations. China firmly supports the new Philippine government in smoothly exercising governance. In line with Mr. President's ideas on national governance, China is ready to work with the Philippines to conduct cooperation in the four key areas of large-scale agriculture, infrastructure, energy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, help the Philippines accelerate its development and revitalization, and create more benefits to the Philippine people.

Wang Yi stressed, the China-Philippines friendship has lasted for over a millennium. Mr. President said on many occasions that any differences should not and will not affect the historic and important relations between the two countries. China agrees with that. The Philippines-China cooperation far outweighs maritime differences, and any specific difference between the two countries cannot define bilateral relations, nor will it hinder bilateral cooperation. The two sides should enhance dialogue and communication and properly handle sensitive issues so as to let maritime cooperation be the main tone of bilateral discussion and handling of maritime affairs, and make the building of good neighbors, good relatives and good partners the new consensus between the two peoples.

On the same day, Wang Yi also met with Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio and National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos of the Philippines. He also held talks with new Foreign Secretary Luis Enrique Manalo and jointly attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.