Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be attending the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and Related Summits, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

The DFA explained that "it is the Chinese Premier (Premier Li Qiang) who attends the Summits, not President Xi (Jinping)."

It added that the DFA has '' not received the official confirmation of Premier Li Qiang’s attendance, as this usually comes much closer to the Summit."

Recently, the Palace was hoping Chinese President Xi Jinping would be able to attend the ASEAN meeting.

In a statement, the DFA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro received a telephone call from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday.

During their conversation, Lazaro "stressed that the Philippines takes its responsibilities as ASEAN Chair seriously, and conveyed that President Marcos looks forward to the participation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila."

"Premier Li has customarily led the Chinese delegation to ASEAN-related summits in recent years. For his part, Foreign Minister Wang conveyed China’s anticipation of President Marcos’s participation in the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen," it stated.

"Both ministers assured each other that their respective leaders would be accorded the proper courtesies and assistance during these meetings," it added.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the state of bilateral ties between China and the Philippines.

"The exchange was frank, pragmatic, and constructive, and reflected the interest of both sides in a stable and predictable relationship founded on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation," the agency stated.

"The two ministers shared the understanding that such a relationship rests on three principles: first, that both sides maintain diplomacy and dialogue; second, that both sides avoid actions and rhetoric that could needlessly undermine relations or heighten tensions; and third, that both sides resolve disputes peacefully and manage differences responsibly," it added.

Also discussed were "matters of concern, including maritime issues, but focused on returning the relationship to an even keel and on upholding the 1975 Joint Communiqué, which remains the enduring basis of Philippines-China cooperation and of the Philippines’ One China Policy."

"The Philippines remains committed to a stable, predictable, mutually respectful, and mutually beneficial relationship with China, in accordance with the national interest and in pursuit of an independent foreign policy as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution," said DFA.

"Secretary Lazaro underscored that good relations between the Philippines and China serve the interests of both countries and of the region, and must be sustained through regular high-level exchanges, ministry-to-ministry channels, and the appropriate bilateral and regional mechanisms," it added. Robina Asido/PHS