On April 3, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with former Philippine President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Beijing.

Wang Yi said that China and the Philippines enjoy time-honored exchanges and China highly values China-Philippines relations. Recalling the meeting between President Xi Jinping and visiting President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in January this year, Wang Yi said the two heads of state gave important strategic guidance on the development of China-Philippines relations, pointing out that the two countries will stay good neighbors helping each other, good relatives sharing affinity, and good partners pursuing win-win cooperation. The two sides should follow the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and stay committed to properly handling differences through communication and dialogue. The two sides must not allow the overall development of bilateral relations to be hindered by maritime issues and their friendly relations sabotaged by third parties, let alone allow the Cold War mentality to resurge and undermine regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi said that Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo is a good friend and old friend of the Chinese people and has done a lot for the friendship between the two countries. He expressed the hope that Macapagal-Arroyo will continue her constructive role in the sound development of China-Philippines relations.

Macapagal-Arroyo said that she witnessed the rapid development and progress of China during this visit to China. The Philippines has high expectations for Chinese modernization, and building a human community with a shared future is the right way forward for humanity. Noting that the Philippines-China friendship will benefit the two countries and two peoples, she expressed readiness to continue her efforts to promote the sound development of Philippines-China relations.

Before the meeting, Wang Yi took a group photo with the Philippine young people accompanying Macapagal-Arroyo on the visit and exchanged views with them. Wang Yi encouraged the youth of the two countries to inherit the friendly tradition, enhance mutual understanding, and pass on the China-Philippines friendship from generation to generation.