Philippines-China out to boost ties as Philippines Covid-19 total nears 499,000

hinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. bump their elbows during a meeting in Manila, Philippines, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Wang is in Manila as part of his Southeast Asian tour that included visits to Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei to promote China's relations in the region. - AP

MANILA, Jan 16 (Philippines Daily Inquirer/ANN): China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in the Philippines during his South-East Asian visit, and both countries are seeking to boost their cooperation and bilateral trade.

And aside from talking about cooperation on vaccines and regional recovery, South China Sea issues would also be important topics as the incoming Biden administration of the US may make more efforts to draw Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines, to challenge the waters, analysts said.