With China’s fast-paced economy looming to become top in the world, former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday reiterated that closer ties between the Philippines and its Asian neighbor will reap economic benefits for the country.

“Since the Chinese economy is moving at a faster rate than the United States, it’s possible that China’s economy will be number one in the world,” Arroyo, an economist and also a former Chief Executive, said in an interview Tuesday morning. “So it’s better if we befriend China.”

Arroyo recalled that it was only 40 years ago when China declared new economic policies and since then, China has transformed itself from being a Third-World country to the second richest nation in the world.

At present, China’s economy is even more bullish than that of the United States.

China is tipped to become the world’s largest economy by the year 2030.

The former President also stressed the country’s foreign policy should always be independent.

Arroyo said she agrees with the stand of President Rodrigo Duterte on the matter, citing her support to the government’s plan to conduct joint explorations with China in the West Philippine Sea.

She added during her term, it was also one of her policies – referring to the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in 2004.

“It was also my policy during my term. I even included Vietnam,” Arroyo expressed.

In the same interview, Arroyo, who took over the top seat in the House of Representatives in July, saying she will push the legislative agenda of Duterte in the House.

She expressed her support to the anti-dynasty and anti-turncoatism provisions in the draft Federal Charter proposed by the presidential Consultative Committee (ConCom).

The Speaker pointed out the provision against political dynasties has long been stated in the 1987 Constitution.

“The anti-dynasty is included in the present Constitution, so I totally agree with it,” Arroyo said.

In the draft Federal Charter, no person related to an incumbent elective official within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity can run for the same position in the immediate succeeding election.

“Persons related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, as described above, are prohibited from running simultaneously for more than one national and one regional or local position,” the ConCom added.

Provisions against turncoatism were also included in the draft, barring any member of a political party elected to public office from changing political affiliations while serving their term.

Also, any candidate seeking public office or any political party official is also banned from switching political parties two years before and after an election.

Arroyo accentuated the need to look into the practice of turncoatism in the current political landscape.

“When we were a two-party system, there was almost no turncoatism, but it changed when we became a multi-party system,” Arroyo quipped. “So, we should study that further.”

The Speaker likewise belied claims by her detractors that she is after the position of Prime Minister under the proposed federal system of government.

“I don’t have plans of running,” Arroyo said.