Philippines President-elect Ferdinand Marcos said he plans to expand ties with China when he assumes office on June 30th. The incoming president told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call on Wednesday that he hopes relations between the two countries will “shift to a higher gear.”

“The way forward is to expand our relationship not only diplomatic, not only trade, but also in culture, even in education, even in knowledge, even in health, to address whatever minor disagreements that we have right now,” Marcos said in a statement.