China keen on priority projects of administration

MANILA, Philippines - China has expressed interest to participate in the priority projects of the Aquino administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Beijing’s interest was expressed during the 16th Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila recently.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue led their respective delegations.

The two officials expressed satisfaction with the progress in Philippine-China relations in the past 35 years.

They also agreed that the two countries should exert joint efforts to further develop their “strategic cooperative relationship for peace and development,” which was established in 2005.

The RP-China FMC is a regular consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of the two countries to review bilateral relations and chart the future path for bilateral cooperation. The last round of the FMC was held in Beijing in 2008.

Both officials welcomed the positive developments in economic and people-to-people relations.

Basilio noted that the consultations are very well timed.

“This meeting comes one year after the 2009-2013 Philippines-China Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation. It is happening in the year that the two countries are marking the 35th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations; and it is happening a few months after the Philippine government has transitioned to a new administration,” she said.

Hu stated that China attaches high importance to its relations with the Philippines and is ready to promote more cooperation with the country.

He also said that over the past 35 years, whenever the two countries encounter problems, both sides are able to seek appropriate solutions with a calm attitude.

Both officials expressed sadness and regret that the Aug. 23 hostage incident took place. Assistant Foreign Minister Hu said both governments should continue to work closely together to appropriately deal with the matter.

He assured Basilio that the incident is an isolated one and that China does not want it to affect the friendly relations between the two sides.

Basilio replied that the Philippine government will follow through the actions ordered by President Benigno Aquino on the matter.