On January 16, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo jointly attended the inauguration of the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations and the launching ceremony of the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) -2021 via video link.

The Chinese side fully supports the holding of the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations, encouraging more people to join the endeavor of promoting the China-Philippines friendship.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the other hand expressed that the establishment of the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations will help the two countries strengthen mutual understanding, boost mutual trust, and overcome differences. She hopes that the two sides will work to constantly develop bilateral friendly cooperation, accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery, and continuously inject new vitality into the Philippines-China friendship.

The Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations is a joint undertaking between the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines that aims to actively continue the efforts of promoting friendship and understanding between the Philippines and China and to enhance the people-to-people exchanges of the two countries.