Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 22) — The Philippines will continue its economic cooperation with China amid conflicts in the West Philippine Sea, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Wednesday.
\”The economic front should not be affected. Any economic relationship we have with China should continue and we should not mix it up with issues in the West Philippine Sea,\” Balisacan said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of UN Day Forum held in Makati.
The Department of Transportation previously said the government is looking for new funding sources for three major railway projects previously backed by China.
Balisacan said China remains part of infrastructure development plans.
\”We are looking for ways in accelerating and ramping up these infrastructure programs but we are not saying that China is out of the infrastructure programs,\” he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the Philippines remains part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“The Philippines signed a new MOU (memorandum of understanding) on the Belt and Road Initiative last January 2023. The Philippines is still implementing infrastructure projects funded with Chinese official development assistance,” the DFA said on Nov. 16.
Manila and Beijing share around 40 government-to-government projects, including 18 that were completed.
Some Chinese-funded infrastructure projects are the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge and the Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project.
The Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project and the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project are also part of infrastructure-related projects.
