On October 29, 2009, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met in Manila with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is in the Philippines for an official visit.

Arroyo spoke highly of bilateral ties and appreciated China's development achievements and its positive role in international and regional affairs, saying that China's prosperity is conducive to the prosperity of the Philippines and the world at large. The Philippine side attaches great importance to ties with China and is ready to work with China to maintain high-level exchange, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of economy, trade and tourism and enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, so as to push forward bilateral strategic cooperative relations.

Yang said the Philippines is a friendly neighbor of China and the friendship between the two countries enjoys a time-honored history. Bilateral strategic cooperative relations have been developing continuously in recent years. The two countries have conducted all-dimensional and multi-level exchange between their governments and non-governmental organizations and the cooperation on economy, trade, agriculture, infrastructure construction and tourism has achieved positive outcome with expanding personnel exchange and sound coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. The development of bilateral ties has not only brought tangible benefits to both peoples but is also conducive to regional stability and development.

Yang said both countries, as developing nations, face the tasks of addressing the global financial crisis, developing economy and improving people's livelihood and their common interests are expanding continuously. China is ready to take the opportunities of the launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-Philippines diplomatic relations and the Shanghai Expo in 2010 and join hands with the Philippines to actively meet challenges and expand strategic cooperation for mutual benefit and common development.

On the same day, Yang held talks with his Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the development of bilateral ties and reached important consensus on advancing China-Philippines strategic cooperative relations. Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level visits and deepen political trust; enhance pragmatic cooperation, promote two-way trade and investment growth and expand cooperation in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, mining and energy including new energy exploration; push forward exchange on culture, education, tourism, health and sports and personnel contacts at all levels and build up mutual understanding and friendship between both peoples; strengthen defense and security cooperation and jointly safeguard regional security and stability; deepen cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries and continue with annual diplomatic consultations and consular consultations. Both sides agreed to hold celebrations to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties and upgrade bilateral ties to a higher level. They also agreed to boost communication and coordination, actively implement the outcome at the East Asia summit meetings and make full use of the launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area to push for steady and relatively fast economic growth and harmonious social development of their own countries and the whole region.

They also exchanged views on the South China Sea issue, pledging joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the overall situation of the bilateral ties.

Following the talks, the two foreign ministers signed the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation and the Philippines-China Consular Agreement.

On October 28, Prospero C. Nograles, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines, met with Yang Jiechi. Nograles emphasized that China's development will promote regional trade exchange and economic development, which is an important opportunity for the Philippines and other East Asian nations. He hoped to take the favorable opportunity of the launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area to further expand bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade, infrastructure construction, energy and tourism. Yang made positive comments on the development of bilateral ties, saying that against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, China is ready to work closely with the Philippines to overcome the current difficulties.