Marcos invites China”s Xi Jinping to visit Philippines

BEIJING — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday he has invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to visit the Philippines.

Marcos made the remark during an interview with the Philippine media delegation here before heading back to Manila.

“Hopefully, the President and his wife will take us up on our invitation na bumisita sa Pilipinas [to visit us in the Philippines],” said Marcos.

During his state visit to China, Marcos had a bilateral meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People where part of their talks focused on the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos also took the chance to raise the plight of Filipino fisherfolks in the region, who were allegedly being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard.

The two leaders also talked about the negotiations on the joint oil and gas explorations in the resource-rich region.

The Philippine leader expressed hope that the negotiations on the explorations would “bear fruit.”

Marcos arrived in Manila Thursday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News