China enhances economic exchanges with new admin

Angeles, Pampanga — China is grateful for the historical friendship between Manila and Beijing and is looking forward to enhancing the bilateral relationship between the two nations, particularly in economic exchanges and cooperation.

In an interview on the sidelines of the “Photo Exhibition on China-Philippines Cooperation Achievements,” Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said Beijing is looking forward to seeing bilateral trade grow steadily.

“In the past six years, China and the Philippines have worked closely to push pragmatic cooperation to new heights,” Xilian said. “The total trade volume between China and the Philippines in 2021 reached $82.05 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34 percent and doubles that of six years ago. China has continued to expand the import of products from the Philippines, opening its doors to fresh coconuts, frozen fruits and avocados.”

He added that Chinese investment in the Philippines is booming. China invested P161 billion from 2016 to 2021, making it the second-largest source of foreign investment in the Philippines during this period. In terms of infrastructure, Chinese enterprises have built many highways, bridges, and water conservation projects.

China has provided the Philippines with the largest number of fertilizers and pesticides and the second-largest amount of agricultural machinery and seeds in terms of agriculture.

Marcos-Jinping call

The Ambassador also confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. He described the conversation as cordial, friendly, and constructive.

“President Xi Jinping once again congratulated President-elect Marcos Jr. on his election as President of the Philippines. They looked forward to the future development of China-Philippines relations and reached an important consensus. President Xi stressed that both countries should carry forward the two sides’ friendship and stay true to their original aspiration,” Xilian said.

During the phone call, Marcos expressed hope that the relations between China and the Philippines would shift to a higher gear and lead to more fruitful and meaningful outcomes for the two countries under his administration, the Ambassador added.

He underscored the traditional friendship between Manila and Beijing spans thousands of years and has stood the test of time, with China only friendship and prosperity and “not colonization and conquest.”