Top diplomats of the Philippines and China have agreed that a stable relationship between the two countries amid differences over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the South China Sea (SCS) is necessary not only for the benefit of their peoples but also for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Saturday vowed to fulfill the promises made at the highest level, particularly those related to the sea row. Qin arrived in Manila on Friday night for a bilateral talk amid China's aggressive activities in the waters of West Philippine Sea, which have been the subject of several Philippine diplomatic protests. DFA Sec. Enrique Manalo (left) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (right). (Photo courtesy of DFA)

In his opening speech, Manalo recalled that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his counterpart, Xi Jinping, "have agreed that our differences in the West Philippine Sea are not the sum total of our relations." The Philippines is asserting its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea that China is entirely claiming. Manalo said both countries' differences must "not prevent us from seeking ways of managing them effectively, especially with respect to the enjoyment of rights of Filipinos." His remark came after noting that the Filipino fishers' livelihood and general wellbeing are being "undermined by incidents and actions in the West Philippine Sea." Manalo called on Qin "to elevate our bilateral relations to even greater heights" as Marcos also shared with Xi the commitment to ensure the continuous "positive trajectory" of the Philippines-China relations. He hoped his meeting with Qin would allow them to follow through the plans and gains both sides have so far made and make some headway to address common issues and challenges. For his part, Qin acknowledged the "fluid" and "turbulent" situation in the region. So, he said, "a healthy and stable China-Philippines relationship" is necessary as it "is not only meeting the aspirations of our two peoples, but also in line with the common aspirations of regional countries." Countries in the region are calling for peace and stability amid the volatile geopolitical situation across the world. Qin thanked the Philippine government for the invitation and the meeting held during the celebration of the end of Ramadan, a holiday. He said "this is ample evidence of the great importance both sides attached to the maintenance and further enhancement of our bilateral relations." The Chinese official was also scheduled to meet Marcos on Saturday afternoon, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila. "We need to work together to continue our tradition of friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and properly resolve our differences in the spirit of credibility, consultation, and dialogue," the Chinese foreign minister said in his speech. He also urged Manalo to "keep our promises to each other so as to bring more benefits to our two countries and people  and inject greater positive energy to the peace and stability of this region and the whole world."