Chinese businessmen to resume talks with Filipino partners

MANILA, Philippines - After more than two years of inactivity, China's largest trade organization is set to resume talks with Filipino partners to promote business relationships with the Philippines.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest umbrella of business organizations in the country, on Monday said  the 50-man delegation of business from  the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) will arrive in the Philippines for an investment forum and business matching. 

The delegation  is interested to meet with Filipino businessmen involved in energy and power, import and export, services, mining, transportation, real estate, construction, agriculture and leather goods manufacturing.

Miguel Varela, PCCI president, China's fast-growing economy, large population and emerging status as economic superpower requires its strategic business sectors to secure stable business relationships that will supply raw materials, products and services in shortage in or not available within China.

The China-Philippine Trade and Investment Forum and Networking Sessions on April 16 from 2:30 p.m. at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.

"It has been two years since the last forum and networking sessions in Guangzhou," Varela said. "That the CCPIT is resuming talks and staging the event here signifies the commitment of China to grow business relationships with the Philippines."

Yu Ping, CCPIT vice-chairman, will lead the delegation.

The CCPIT is  a national organization of foreign economic relations and trade composed of representative personages, enterprises and organizations from China’s economic and trade circles. It was authorized by the State Council of China to also use the alternate name China Chamber of International Commerce.

The PCCI and the CCPIT have advisors and experts to help entrepreneurs start or transact business with the Chinese, Varela said.

Chinese Ambassador Ma Ke Qing will deliver a message about China's policies on international trade during the forum. Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, meanwhile, will discuss Philippine-China Trade and Investment Relations.

Further inquiries can be made with the PCCI international and trade affairs unit (845-8196 locals 134/135/105) and the business matching unit (845-8196 local 106).