President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday extended his congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jinping as China assumed the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2026, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to partnership and meaningful cooperation in the region.

In a photograph from the turnover ceremony, Marcos and Xi were seen sharing a brief handshake at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, South Korea.

“I congratulated President Xi Jinping as China assumes the APEC Chairmanship in 2026, and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to partnership and meaningful cooperation in our region,” Marcos said in a social media post.

The symbolic event marked the formal handover of APEC hosting duties from outgoing chair Lee Jae-myung, closing the 2025 summit.

The interaction comes amid ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. Despite these challenges, the Marcos repeatedly emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation within the Asia-Pacific community.

China last chaired APEC in 2014, hosting the leaders’ summit in Beijing, where discussions focused on economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).