CHINA’s Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua extols Philippine-China relations during the inauguration of two bridges which his country has helped finance. From helping fund the construction of bridges and drug rehabilitation facilities, China has made good of its promise to partner with the Philippines in realizing collaborative undertakings.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque pointed this out yesterday in Malaybalay, Bukidnon during the inauguration of the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center (NMWRC).

“We’re very happy that we have this newfound cooperation that has resulted in collaborative undertakings from bridges to rehab facilities,” said Roque in a press briefing.

The construction of the largest drug treatment and rehabilitation facility in Mindanao was financed by the Chinese-owned Friends of the Philippines Foundation (FPF).

The center is expected to provide rehabilitation and skills training facilities for Filipino drug users, with the end goal of making them productive members of society in the future, Roque said.

He stressed that the initiative was made possible through the improved relationship between the Philippines and China, which has “entered the best level in history and will continue to be even better.”

“I think the Philippine-Chinese relationship is at its renaissance. It is at its best. This wellness center is in fact evidence that this cooperation can in fact bear fruits,” Roque said.

“Driven by the support of the Chinese government to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign, the Chinese-funded Friends of the Philippines Foundation has made a major contribution to the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign,” he added.

Roque further expressed hope that the two governments will continue to work together in future projects.

Just last week, two China-funded bridges had their groundbreaking ceremony in Manila, the Palace official mentioned.

Roque said China’s openness to a 60-40 joint exploration with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea is allowed under the country’s Constitution.

“We are following the specific provision in the Constitution that foreigners can participate on a 60-40 basis, meaning 60-percent Filipino and 40-percent foreign-owned,” he said.

He also reacted to reports that China wants to conduct joint military exercises with Southeast Asian nations in disputed waters, stressing that defense authorities will study the matter seriously.

“We find nothing objectionable with the fact that China would want to exclude non-Asians from the military exercise. I think the contemplation of Chinese authorities is to have military cooperation amongst neighbors,” Roque noted.

“Of course, the United States is 10,000 miles away. So if the intention is to build stronger relations between military forces who are neighbors, then the United States would really be out of place,” he added.