President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed hope that the Philippines’ bilateral relations with China and Chile will further improve under the leadership of the two countries’ newly designated ambassadors.

Marcos accepted the credentials of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan and Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Felipe Alejandro Diaz Ibañez in separate ceremonies at Malacañan Palace on Thursday.

During Jing’s presentation of credentials, Marcos said China is one of the Philippines’ most important friends and partners in the world.

“I’m sure that there will be many opportunities for us to make the relationship between our two countries stronger, deeper and more important as the years go by,” he told Jing.

“I look forward to working with you in managing the differences and intensifying the cooperation between our two countries. Our differences should be the exception in our ties rather than the norm,” he added.

Jing, a seasoned Chinese diplomat, served as minister and deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in the United States before assuming his post as Beijing’s new ambassador to Manila.

Marcos also welcomed Chile’s new envoy, expressing confidence that the Philippines will enjoy stronger ties under Diaz’s leadership.

“We are happy that an old friend of the Philippines has returned and the long and very fine relationship between our two countries will continue, and we would continue to promote an even longer and even closer relationship between our two countries,” President Marcos said.

Diaz entered the Chilean Foreign Service in 1999 and began his overseas career at the Embassy of Chile in the Philippines from 2003 to 2008, serving as consul and overseeing economic-commercial, cultural and cooperation affairs.

Prior to his latest designation, Diaz served as Chile’s Consul General in Tacna, Peru.

The Philippines formalized diplomatic relations with Chile and China in 1946 and 1975, respectively.

Both Jing and Diaz vowed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation and friendly relations between the Philippines and their respective countries. (PNA)