China ready to resume oil, gas talks with PH
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Manila and Beijing as the world recovers from the COVID-19.
The President, in his meeting with Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People’s Congress, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, said his state visit is “extremely important” to both countries.
“The partnerships in the next few years will be partnerships that will stabilize and strengthen all our economies so that we are able to face challenges and the different shocks that now we feel and will continue to feel in the next few years,” he said during the meeting.
He said he expects his state visit to open more opportunities that would elevate the relations of the two countries to a “strategic partnership” and boost cooperation in various areas such as infrastructure, tourism, trade and people-to-people ties. He also expressed hope that it would lead to more investments from China.
The President said while there were some “disagreements” between the two countries, it should not be “the sum” of Manila and Beijing’s relationship.
“The relationship must extend to commerce, culture, education, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people exchanges,” Marcos said, adding that his meeting with several Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping is a reaffirmation of the Philippines’ commitment to the friendship between the two countries.
A Reuters report quoting Chinese state television said Xi told Marcos that China is ready to resume oil and gas talks and manage maritime issues “cordially” with the Philippines.
Beijing territorial claims in the South China Sea, which is rich in oil, gas and fish and where about $3 trillion in ship-borne trade passes annually, had been a source of tension between it and some Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.
The Philippines had previously raised concerns over reported Chinese construction activities and the “swarming” of Beijing’s vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Xi told Marcos that China is willing to jointly explore oil and gas resources in the non-disputed areas of the sea, cooperate with the Philippines on solar and wind energy, and increase imports of fishery products.
Xi also promised wide cooperation, from support for Chinese investment to the Philippines, to helping its neighbor develop its villages and agricultural technology, basic education, meteorology and space, and vaccines.
Marcos’ visit comes as Xi reopens China’s borders to the world after three year of isolation to guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. Xi greeted Marcos without masks as both men attended a welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People, a grand building in the heart of the capital.
Xi hosted a banquet for the President and his delegation on Wednesday night.
PARTNERSHIP
Marcos also met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
During his meeting with the Chinese premier, Marcos said the Philippines and China should build a strong partnership as they face multiple challenges.
“It is very important that these partnerships continue to be strong, continue to be encouraged. And I think that will be the way forward to the mutual benefit of our countries.
We have many, many, many areas that we continue to have cooperation in. And I think that they should be encouraged because they are in the precise areas that are necessary to develop so that we are strong financially as a country, we are strong in our society, and we are strong in our partnerships with our friends and allies around the world,” Marcos said.
Li, during his first meeting with Marcos on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Plus Three (APT) Summit in Cambodia last year, said there should be a continued growth of China-Philippines relations, stressing that what the two countries have in common “far outweigh” their differences.
China has been the Philippines’ major trading partner, posting a total trade of $29.1 billion as of January to September 2022, and a major contributor to the country’s tourism industry with 9,574 tourist arrivals from China in 2022. It also hosts around 15,000 Filipinos.
ENGAGEMENTS
Speaker Martin Romualdez, in an interview, said the President’s meeting with Li “was a very positive engagement.” The meeting kicked off Marcos’ state visit to China.
Romualdez expressed hope the visit will result in more engagements between the legislative bodies of China and the Philippines as Li encouraged both countries to have high-level exchanges.
“We will look forward to the invitations that have actually been extended in the previous years but due to COVID, it did not materialize… Now that China is opening up this year, we look forward to seeing these engagements and these exchanges between the Congress of China and the Congress and Senate of the Philippines come to fruition in the year 2023,” he added.
Aside from Romualdez, others who joined the trip were First Lady Louise Araneta- Marcos, former President now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. Imee Marcos, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Economic Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Special Assistant to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo.
Around 200 persons joined the trip including 60 to 80 representatives from the business sector.
At least 10 key agreements are expected to be signed during the January 3-5 state visit. — With Reuters
