China’s vice-president to attend Marcos inauguration in Philippines
- Wang Qishan will be Xi Jinping’s special representative at event on Thursday
- Wang also went to Seoul in May for swearing-in of South Korean leader
Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that Wang would attend as president Xi Jinping’s special representative, heading a Chinese delegation.
In a phone call after the election in May, Xi congratulated Marcos on his win and expressed hopes of deepening ties between the two countries.
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Beijing is seeking to maintain that relationship of “continuity and stability” under the incoming Marcos administration.
As one of the major rival claimants of the South China Sea, a key member of Asean and a treaty ally of the United States, the Philippines is critical to China as it comes under pressure from the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy.
Xi has promised the Philippines “active support and help” for economic and social development in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education, pandemic control and post-Covid recovery.
He has also said he hopes “the Philippines can continue to uphold its independence and autonomy in foreign policy”.
Marcos has expressed a willingness to strengthen contacts with China at all levels and deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, energy, culture and education.
In 1974, a year before the two countries established official diplomatic ties, then president Ferdinand Marcos Snr, sent his wife Imelda and son, 17-year-old Bongbong to visit Beijing and meet Mao Zedong.
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The presence of Wang, 73, as Xi’s representative in Seoul in May was the first overseas trip by a senior Chinese leader since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in 2020.
