China continues to help the Philippines

DAVAO CITY – China has vowed to continue providing assistance - in the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan - for the construction and livelihood development of Davao City and the Philippines to bring more benefits to the people.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilia

 

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has recently donated 10 brand new ambulances and vans to President Duterte’s hometown to boost Davao City’s anti-epidemic efforts. 

The donation was received by Duterte’s son, Sebastian who is also the vice mayor of Davao City. “It’s our pleasure to contribute to the efforts of the City Government of Davao to advocate the well-being of its citizens. Hope these ambulances and vehicles could help to save more lives at this difficult time. We will, as always, stand together with the Philippine government and people to jointly overcome the pandemic till the day of a final victory,” Huang said.   

Huang also said that China would donate to the Philippines some one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac. “I am glad to inform (you) that the Chinese government has decided to donate another 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccines. I hope that the vaccines will further facilitate the on-going vaccination roll-out and promote early economic and social recovery in the Philippines,” he said. 

China is now the number-one trading partner of the Philippines and Huang said the Chinese imports and investment help the Philippines recover from effects of the health crisis. 

“Happy to see that China is now the Philippines’ number-one trading partner, number- one import source, number-two export market, and major foreign investor. The economic tie between China and the Philippines is helping the Philippine economy recover from the downturn caused by the pandemic,” he said. 

Huang also quoted Filipino Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez as saying that “Philippine exports to China have increased significantly during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“From January to June 2021, our export to China reached 5.5 billion U.S. dollars or an increase of 34 percent compared to the same period in 2020. China has widely accepted our export products, making it easy for our products to enter the Chinese market,” Lopez said. 

He added that Chinese investments kept pouring into the Philippines during the Duterte administration, even amid the pandemic because the country gained from the President’s independent foreign policy stance. 

According to Philippines’ statistics, China ranked Philippines’ number-two foreign investment source in 2016-2020 as its cumulative investment in the country reached P158 billion, increased by 337% comparing with the 2011-2015 figure. 

He also said signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November last year was another good thing during the Duterte administration, and the RCEP is a historic free trade agreement. 

“I sincerely wish that the Philippines could ratify the agreement as soon as possible. Turning the agreement into effect will benefit further the trade and investment relation between our two countries, and this, will consequently benefit the Philippine economy and people,” Huang said. (Mindanao Examiner)