Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to visit Manila this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, bringing China to the regional diplomatic table at a time when tensions over the South China Sea remain a major concern.
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Li will participate in the summit on Sunday and Monday, alongside several international leaders, including US President Donald Trump. The gathering is scheduled to take place from November 15 to 18, with discussions expected to focus on regional cooperation, economic development and international relations.
Li’s planned visit comes against the backdrop of longstanding disagreements between China and the Philippines over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. Relations between the two countries have remained strained, with diplomatic exchanges becoming increasingly sharp in the lead-up to the regional meeting.
In October, Beijing accused Manila of creating multiple obstacles to China’s participation in an Asean-related meeting hosted by the Philippines. The accusation was rejected by the Philippines’ defence chief, highlighting the continuing differences between the two governments.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, also called on the Philippines to address statements by politicians that Beijing considered damaging to bilateral relations. He urged Manila to prevent what China described as repeated attacks against its position and actions that crossed its established red lines.
Despite these disagreements, Beijing has indicated that it wants to use the upcoming summit as an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with Southeast Asian nations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China hopes the meeting will encourage greater solidarity and mutual trust with Asean member states. He also highlighted several areas where China wants to expand cooperation, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, energy security, regional connectivity, poverty reduction and development.
The summit is expected to attract several prominent international leaders. US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are among those confirmed to attend the Manila gathering and its related meetings.
Other major Asian economies will also be represented, with Japan and South Korea expected to participate as Asean’s East Asian dialogue partners.
A summit with important regional implications
Li Qiang’s attendance carries significance beyond routine diplomatic engagement. With competing territorial interests, economic partnerships and regional security concerns shaping Southeast Asia’s future, the summit offers an important opportunity for world leaders to engage in dialogue.
For the Philippines, hosting the gathering places the country at the centre of important regional discussions. For China, participation provides an opportunity to maintain diplomatic engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbours despite ongoing disagreements.
Ultimately, the summit will be closely watched for signs of how regional leaders navigate sensitive political differences while protecting economic partnerships, stability and cooperation. At a time when tensions remain high, meaningful dialogue and diplomatic engagement will be essential in shaping the future of relations across the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: AFP
