Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (Kenny Holston/Pool Photo via AP)
It is encouraging when two leaders of the world's largest economies meet, President Marcos said.
He said this when asked for a statement on the high-level meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss economic and trade issues.
"Well, I think it's of importance to everyone when two of the largest economies in the world are meeting to discuss some of the issues that we are facing now," Marcos said in a roundtable with Japanese media on Monday, May 18.
The two countries are currently observing a year-long truce in their trade war.
"So it's hard to say what the effects of that meeting will be. However, it is always very encouraging to see when the two nations, such as China and the United States, can still come together and communicate with one another. And the two presidents can directly be communicating is extremely important," Marcos pointed out.
He underscored that "it is very important" to see that "there is continuing dialogue" between the US and China.
"That is very, very important for us. Again, it comes down to peace. And when I say peace now, I don't mean just military, lack of fighting. I'm also talking about peace in terms of trade. The trade wars will diminish, and there will be more cooperation," Marcos said.
The President stressed that exchanges between the two economic giants are good for consumers and the economy.
"It's good for our consumers. It's good for the strength of our economy. Innovation comes in. We compete vigorously. But we must cooperate whenever we possibly can. And that for me is going to bring the synergy," he said.
Marcos hoped that the meeting between Trump and Xi would "will achieve that synergy" and that there would be a lessening of economic intensity.
"I understand that it is not a simple discussion. There are issues that are very complicated and very many complicated issues that have to be discussed and that have to be agreed upon," Marcos said.
"But nonetheless, it is encouraging to see that the two leaders got together. I think it was a very fruitful discussion. But we still have to see the details of what came out of it," he added.