Beijing, Manila fly the flag for peaceful waters

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the Philippines this week underlines the great importance China attaches to its neighborhood diplomacy. It is another sign of China's commitment to deepening ties with countries in Southeast Asia and working with them to build a shared future.

Wang's talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr have touched upon a wide range of issues from deepening bilateral cooperation to jointly defending multilateralism and maintaining peace in the South China Sea.

Indeed, in a little more than two years, Beijing and Manila have made great strides in cooperation. Each time high-ranking officials from the two countries have met, they have focused on how to expand their fields of cooperation and deepen mutual trust. Wang's visit this time is no exception, as it aims to consolidate the basis for further improvement in bilateral relations, so as to bring more benefits to both countries.