Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 6) — The Philippines’ ambassador to Beijing said the country’s relations with China remain stable despite differences, with Manila eyeing more investments and tourists from the East Asian giant.
\”With China we have stable relations, we manage our differences but differences [are] not the totality of our relations,\” Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz told reporters on Wednesday, July 5.
FlorCruz — who was in Manila for consultation on consular programs and improving services in China — was responding to a question on how he would describe ties with Beijing under the Marcos administration.
He added that there is a need to also look at the positive aspect of the bilateral relations apart from security and regional issues.
\”On many fronts, we are trying to push positive tangible projects from China to the Philippines,\” FlorCruz said. \”We can tap on China’s potential and strengths in terms of investment, clean energy, connectivity and agricultural production which all aligned with President Marcos’ priorities. We hope to encourage more Chinese investments and projects here in the Philippines and that’s our focus.\”
\”We want to bring more people here, people-to-people exchanges, Chinese tourists and more Filipino students and travelers to China. Seeing is believing and I hope more Filipinos will see how China is like today,\” he added.
The Philippines previously recorded some 1.9 million Chinese tourist arrivals in 2019 and the government wants to surpass this number in the coming years following China’s easing of pandemic restrictions this year.
Chinese envoy meets with PH defense chief to promote defense, military relations
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, on the other hand, had a \”constructive meeting\” with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
In a Facebook post, the Chinese envoy said they discussed ways to maintain peace and stability in the region.
