PBBM proceeds with China visit despite COVID-19 surge

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will proceed with his state visit to China from January 3 to 5, 2023, despite concerns over the renewed spread of COVID-19 in China.

The visit, upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, is considered very important for the Philippines' external relations with China and is expected to set the tone for bilateral relations for the next five to six years.

Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial stated that some visits cannot be postponed.

Imperial assured that all arrangements are being made to ensure the safety of the President and the delegation, including a bubble arrangement to minimize the risk of virus exposure.

The President and his delegation, which includes Cabinet officials and a sizable business delegation, will arrive in China on the late evening of January 3.

This visit is part of Marcos' bid to jumpstart ties with China, and he will be meeting Xi Jinping, whom he first met in November 2022.