UPON the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. undertook an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from October 9 to 11.
On October 10, the two foreign ministers held a bilateral meeting to take stock of priority political and economic two-way cooperation initiatives. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, both sides reaffirmed the continuing vitality of relations despite the constraints imposed by the pandemic, and pledged to forge ahead with sustained policy dialogues, as well as economic and infrastructure cooperation projects. Wang affirmed China’s commitment of support to the Philippine government’s infrastructure drive under the “Build, Build, Build” program.
The two also engaged in a candid and in-depth exchange on regional security concerns, as well as issues of mutual interest in the context of Asean-China ties in which the Philippines acts as China coordinator, as well as in wider multilateral fora.
At the meeting’s close, Locsin and Wang confirmed the prospective establishment of a “fast lane for urgently needed personnel exchanges” between the Philippines and China to facilitate—with due safeguards—the movement of essential official exchanges and travel by personnel in crucial industries such as business and trade, infrastructure, logistics, production, as well as technical services.
Joining the SFA were Madame Ma. Lourdes B. Locsin, Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Meynardo L.B. Montealegre, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert E.A. Borje, Philippine Embassy-Beijing Minister Raphael S.C. Hermoso, Special Assistant Shiena Escoto-Tesorero, Embassy Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jet C. Olfato, as well as Asian and Pacific Affairs Principal Assistant Emilio O. Lopue Jr. The state councilor received the SFA and his entourage in Tengchong City, in the southern province of Yunnan. DFA