Philippines’ Marcos wants China ties to shift to ‘higher gear’

MANILA : Philippines president-elect

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

on Wednesday said his country’s ties with China will expand and “shift to a higher gear” when he takes power, signalling intent to advance outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte’s pro-Beijing agenda.

Marcos said he held “very substantial” talks by phone on Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who assured him of support for his “independent foreign policy”, and agreed to hold more comprehensive discussions. The 64-year-old son of the former dictator said Xi also acknowledged his late father’s role in opening diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines. “The way forward is to expand our relationship not only diplomatic, not only trade, but also in culture, even in education, in knowledge, in health, to address whatever minor disagreements that we have right now,” he saidThe Philippines and China have had a rocky relationship in recent years over Beijing’s claims in South China Sea.