PHUKET, Thailand, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to cooperate with the Philippines to push forward the relations between the two countries, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in the meeting with his Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo Tuesday.

    The Chinese government encourages and supports competitive enterprises to invest in the Philippines, and it also promotes cooperation in areas such as agriculture and new energy, said Yang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) meets with his Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo in Phuket, southern Thailand, July 21, 2009

The Philippines will also work with China to push forward the relations between the two countries, said Romulo.

    The year 2010 marks the 35th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two counties.

    Both Yang and Romulo will take part in an ASEAN Regional Forum held on Thursday. The ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.