Your Excellency, my speech would be longer than yours because at the outset I would like to thank you, Your Excellency, for the warm welcome and excellent arrangements extended me and my delegation.

I am pleased to be back in Beijing upon the invitation of your government. We have yet another important opportunity to take stock of the state of our relations and the progress we have jointly achieved since my state visit last year.

I look forward to a most fruitful and productive discussion as we seek to expand and deepen the cooperative and friendly ties between our nations and peoples.

As I have said before, Excellency, the Philippines and China are writing a new chapter of collaboration in these modern times.

Allow me therefore to highlight the following:

On strengthening bilateral relations, my visit last year affirmed our mutual interest in furthering our partnership.

We have signed many agreements and resumed formal bilateral dialogue mechanisms such as the foreign ministry consultations.

These steps are just in the right direction.

We should use this mechanism fully to dialogue openly, monitor progress made, and to ensure that projects are implemented…

[media were asked to leave the room]

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