MANILA, Philippines – Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian urged both Filipinos and Chinese to “seek cooperation instead of confrontation” as the two nations commemorated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Speaking at the symbolic lighting ceremony of the historic Jones Bridge in Manila, Huang emphasized the inseparable nature of the two countries despite ongoing frictions in the West Philippine Sea. “China and the Philippines are close neighbors that cannot move apart. Good neighborliness serves the fundamental interests of our two peoples,” he stated.

“It is our sincere hope that more and more people will join our efforts to bring our relationship back to an even better future,” the ambassador added.

The event, which commemorated the golden jubilee of the Philippines-China relationship, was led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. It was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Cabinet officials, and prominent leaders from the Filipino-Chinese business community.

Huang lauded the significant contributions of the Filipino-Chinese community to the Philippines’ economic development and cultural richness, calling them “true stakeholders and rightful protagonists in this multi-society, and whose participation and contribution should be well-valued and cherished.” He also extended gratitude to the Chinese engineers involved in the Jones Bridge lighting project and to the First Lady for spearheading the revitalization effort, noting the crucial support from the Filipino-Chinese community.

The lighting ceremony of the Jones Bridge, a collaborative effort between the Philippine government and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is part of a broader initiative to restore Binondo and celebrate its cultural and historical importance. Malacañang stated that this year’s celebration “highlights people-to-people exchanges” and reaffirms the “deep-rooted ties between the Filipino and Chinese communities.”

Ambassador Huang’s call for “collaboration instead of confrontation, dialogue instead of conflict” comes amidst China’s continued actions in the West Philippine Sea, where Beijing refuses to recognize the 2016 arbitration ruling invalidating its sweeping nine-dash line claim. Under the Marcos Jr. administration, Manila has become increasingly vocal in defending its sovereign rights in the resource-rich area, particularly in response to Chinese vessels deploying water cannons against Filipino civilian ships and fishing boats within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The ambassador’s sentiments also contrast with recent statements from Philippine officials. Just last week, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called out China’s perceived duplicity, noting that Beijing advocates for dialogue in international forums while simultaneously militarizing disputed waters. “For dialogue to be effective, it must be coupled with trust, and China has a lot of trust building to do to be an effective negotiating partner in disputed settlements,” Teodoro stated at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. “We have to call a spade a spade, and that’s what we see.”