On the morning of November 15, 2017 local time, Premier Li Keqiang met at the hotel where he stayed in Manila with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel of the Philippines.

Li Keqiang expressed that exchanges between China and the Philippines have been long-standing and well-established. Since the turnaround of China-Philippines relations last year, bilateral relations have constantly seen a positive momentum of improvement and development and bilateral cooperation has been continuously promoted in all sectors. My visit this time is to work with the Philippines to consolidate and expand the sound momentum and make up the time and opportunities that were once lost. Li Keqiang called for opening a new chapter for Chinese-Philippines friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment.

Li Keqiang pointed out that I am pleased to learn that the parliamentary exchanges, people-to-people communication and other exchanges at all levels between the two countries have been more active, which demonstrates that a friendly bilateral relationship accords with the expectation of the two peoples as well as the trend of the times. He welcomed all circles from China and the Philippines to jointly participate in the building of bilateral relations so as to create favorable conditions for further enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation, as well as to consolidate the public opinion foundation for bilateral long-term friendship.

Aquilino Pimentel welcomed Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the Philippines and highly lauded China's attention to bilateral relations. He thanked China for providing precious support for the economic and social development and livelihood improvement for the Philippines, and stressed that the Philippines stands ready to continuously strengthen bilateral exchanges between the legislative organs and political parties of the two sides so as to elevate bilateral relations to new highs.