PHILIPPINE congressional leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the last day of his state visit on Wednesday and assured him lawmakers support the policy to forge closer ties with Beijing despite the two countries’ differences on maritime territory.
In his opening statement during the joint call on both houses of Congress by Xi, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III stated the importance of the good diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China.
Sotto stressed there is certainly much more that binds the Philippines and China together than what may divide the two. It is in the spirit of friendship that the Philippine delegation welcomed Xi to Manila, he added.
In his response, Xi stressed that the South China Sea is a sea of friendship and cooperation that creates a bond of friendship for the two nations.
Xi told the lawmakers his plans for Filipinos, which include increasing job opportunities for Filipino teachers and nurses; multiplying mutual visits from 1 million to 2 million; and opening up free trade to the Philippines, among others.
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for her part, assured Xi that the House of Representatives fully supports the policy of the Duterte administration forging closer ties with Beijing.
During the bilateral meeting at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Arroyo also stressed the importance of stronger ties between China and the Philippines as “all-around cooperation” of the Philippines and China is “as good as it has ever been.”
“The relationship between China and the Philippines is very important for our countries. One reason is geography. Good relations between neighbors is always a priority. A second reason is that, China is increasingly involved not only in bilateral dealings but collectively, such as through Asean. The third reason is that China’s economy is the most dynamic among the neighboring nations,” Arroyo said.
“A fourth factor is that domestically, the Philippines has a vibrant Filipino-Chinese community for whom increased business dealings with China is very natural. And fifth, infrastructure will be very important for the Philippines in the coming years. And there is no country in the world that matches China’s recent track record and capability in this area,” the Speaker added.
Arroyo said the House will help maximize the benefits of the Philippines’s increased joint activity with China.
“Our legislative agenda is focused on areas that are essential to economic activity such as generating fiscal resources to improve our country’s infrastructures. Going forward, implementation will now be the key to maximizing the benefits of growing economic trade and investment relations between our two countries,” she said.
“In this area, the traditional oversight function of the Legislative will be useful in encouraging our implementers from the Executive Branch so that they can maintain focus and strive for maximum results in the shortest possible time,” Arroyo added.
Bonanza
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte cited the “bonanza” secured by the Philippines, ranging from concessional financing for the “Build, Build, Build” program to joint oil and gas exploration plus stronger cooperation in education and agriculture with China, following the two-day state visit of the Chinese president to Manila.
President Duterte and President Xi witnessed in Malacañang the exchange of 29 agreements on November 20. These were a mix of bilateral accords, letters and commercial contracts, including nine on infrastructure development, one on joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea, and another on the follow-up float of the country’s “Panda” or renminbi-denominated bonds in China.
The long list also included memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), cooperation on industrial parks development, infrastructure cooperation, and feasibility study support for major projects; protocol for the export of fresh young coconuts from the Philippines to China; MOU on strengthening agricultural cooperatives; commercial contracts on the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project and the first phase of the Safe Philippines Project; and a cultural exchange agreement, cooperation on basic education and on information technology.
“President Duterte’s bold foreign policy rebalancing has paid off handsomely. For those who wrongly think that we have much to lose instead of gain from our reinvigorated ties with China on the Duterte watch, they should examine the agreements we have forged this week with Beijing before mouthing off preposterous statements opposing these deals,” Villafuerte said.
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Go Speaker Arroyo and Sen. Sotto, Agree! Kung ako rin naman ang papapiliin mas gusto ko pa na maayos ang samahan at tulungan kaysa naman makipag-away tayo sa ibang bansa at hindi naman natin kaya at mas malala pa ang mangyari sa atin at sa ating bansa diba? Ang ginagawa naman nila ay para din sa atin kaya saludo ako sa ating mga Leaders! 🇵🇭