Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17616932791861761693274832.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met for the first time on Nov. 17, 2022 on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Office of the Press Secretary</p><div><br/></div><p>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will invite Chinese president Xi Jinping to Manila should the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea be concluded in 2026.</p><p>This, as the Philippine leader expressed optimism in passing the Code of Conduct in the disputed waters during the Philippine’s term as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/28/philippines-to-take-asean-chair-with-focus-on-south-china-sea-1921">Philippines to take ASEAN chair with focus on South China Sea</a></div><p>“I will certainly invite him. That’s for sure,” Marcos said in a press briefing following the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on Tuesday.</p><p>“I would make all of the efforts available – all of the ways available, the means that we have available to us to show how sincere – to President Xi Jinping how sincere we are that we would like for him to come to the Philippines. And he has been to the Philippines before,” he added. </p><p>The leader of the East Asia giant visited the Philippines in 2018 during the term of then President Rodrigo Duterte, who forged closer ties with Beijing as he veered away from Washington. </p><p>Marcos noted that Xi already made a “few friends” in the country, hence increasing prospects of him revisiting the Philippines. </p><p>“But, you know, that would presume that we have made some serious progress in our talks with them,” the President saod. </p><p>“And so, if we get to that point where President Xi will actually consider coming to the Philippines, it would mean that we have made significant progress. And that would be a great thing,” he added. </p><p>Negotiations between ASEAN member states and China for the code in the strategic waterway, which began in 2018, aimed to lay out mechanisms in preventing disputes and managing tensions.</p><p>All parties have committed to the early conclusion of a “substantive and effective” COC. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/27/marcos-flags-dangerous-maneuvers-coercive-use-of-tools-in-south-china-sea-1238">Marcos flags &#x27;dangerous maneuvers, coercive use of tools&#x27; in South China Sea</a></div><div><iframe width="734" height="413" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j1zz9qqHQ8E" title="Marcos Jr. blasts China in ASEAN summit | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will invite Chinese president Xi Jinping to Manila should the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea be concluded in 2026.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will invite Chinese president Xi Jinping to Manila should the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea be concluded in 2026.

Marcos to invite China’s Xi Jinping to Manila if South China Sea code talks wrap up in 2026

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Marcos to invite China’s Xi Jinping to Manila if South China Sea code talks wrap up in 2026

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 29, 2025 07:17 AM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

ASEAN Summit

Philippines

Xi Jin Ping

South China Sea

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