Diplomacy builds bridges: DFA affirms dialogue with China
Advancing Philippine interests and maintaining dialogue with China go hand in hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, calling for a coordinated national approach that brings together diplomacy, international law and responsible public communication.
In its November 8, 2026 statement entitled, “Statement on Statecraft, Transparency and the National Interest,” the DFA reaffirmed its official account of the November 3 telephone conversation between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro. The department said the exchange was part of both countries’ efforts to keep relations stable and predictable, manage differences responsibly, and support regional stability before, during, and beyond the ASEAN and APEC summits.