BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on Wednesday morning on bilateral ties and regional development.

Xi congratulated Marcos again on his election as president of the Philippines.

He stressed that Marcos has participated in and witnessed the development of China-Philippines relations, calling Marcos a builder, supporter and promoter of the China-Philippines friendship.

Citing a Philippine saying "If you do not know where you have come from, you cannot go far," Xi urged both countries to carry forward the friendship of the two sides and stay true to their original aspiration.

The Chinese president said the two countries should also grasp the general trend, write a grand story on the China-Philippines friendship in the new era and follow through the blueprint for bilateral friendly cooperation, so as to usher in an even brighter future for the bilateral ties.

(Source: Xinhua)