‘RP, China ties in a golden age’

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao pushed yesterday for greater cooperation between China and the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in the area of trade.

"As President Arroyo rightly pointed out, (the) China-Philippines relationship is in a golden age. I cannot agree with her more. We both stand for the building of a China-Philippines strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development on the basis of time-honored friendship between the two countries and two peoples," he added.

Hu recalled that trade between the two countries started more than a thousand years ago and has "withstood the test of time."

"Looking back, we can take justified pride in the rich fruits of our relations. Looking ahead, we see still greater accomplishment in our cooperation. We from China are fully ready to work with our Philippine friends from all walks of life to build on the past and usher in a better future for China-Philippine relations," he stressed.

"Cooperation is the order of the day in Asia. As economic globalization and regional integration develop in depth, more Asian countries have realized the importance of cooperation... Promoting development and prosperity through cooperation has become the common goal of Asian countries and holds prospects for Asia’s development," he said in an address before a joint session of Congress.

He said both China and the Philippines are developing countries "and the first and foremost task we face is to develop our national economies."

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, an anniversary that deserves joint celebrations by both countries and peoples. I am pleased that, with the concerted efforts, our bilateral relations have made considerable strides characterized by greatly enhanced political trust, fruitful trade and economic cooperation, closer cultural exchanges and substantial increase in personnel exchanges.

The leader of the world’s most populous nation told his listeners that his country’s rapid economic development has not only improved the lives of its 1.3 billion people but also provided opportunities for increased trade between China and other countries, particularly its neighbors, including the Philippines.

"The booming Chinese economy has provided a most powerful engine for East Asia and a fast-growing market for the neighboring countries. In recent years, China-ASEAN trade has maintained a nearly 30 percent annual growth rate, climbing to $105.9 billion in 2004. With steady progress in the development of a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, we have full confidence in meeting the target of $200 billion in annual trade volume by 2010," he said.

He noted that besides trade, China and Asian nations cooperated in confronting the crippling Asian financial crisis in 1997, the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic and even the recent Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

He took pride in his country’s great economic accomplishments since 27 years ago when, "under the leadership of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, China set in motion its reform and opening-up process and embarked on the great path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics."

"Since then, the Chinese people have made remarkable achievements in building material, political and spiritual civilizations, and enabled the country to embrace the most profound transformation in its history," he said.

Hu said from 1978 to 2004, China’s gross domestic product increased from $147.3 billion to $1.6 trillion, or an average annual growth rate of 9.4 percent, while imports and exports expanded at a rate of 16 percent, from $20.6 billion to $1.5 trillion.

"During the same period, the number of rural poor in China dwindled from 250 million to 26 million. Now, China is working toward building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020. We plan to increase our GDP to $4 trillion or so in the next 15 years, with per capita income reaching $3,000," he added.

The visiting official predicted increased trade between China and ASEAN starting in July this year when a comprehensive tariff reduction program goes into effect.

"The Chinese government will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and start business ventures in ASEAN countries and take an active part in the development of the East ASEAN growth area," he said.

Hu assured the Philippines and other Asian countries that China is a good neighbor.

"Seeking good neighborly relations is a thousand-year-old tradition of the Chinese. The Chinese government will persist in building good neighborly relationships and partnerships with our neighboring countries and commit to fostering an amicable, peaceful and prosperous neighborhood. We will unswervingly cultivate long-term and stable relations of friendship and cooperation with our neighbors, including the ASEAN countries," he said.

He said China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and sticks to the path of peaceful development.

"It stands for a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, seeks to settle existing differences through dialogue, and promotes common security through cooperation," he stressed.

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said Hu’s address before the joint session of Congress "inaugurates what promises to be a golden age in Philippine-Chinese relations.

"Our two countries’ commitment to stability and development brings closer the hundred years of peace we envision for the Asia Pacific," he said.

He said the Chinese leader is keen on increasing trade between China and the Philippines to $20 billion this year and in encouraging more Chinese investments here.

He noted that China is financing the development of the Manila-Clark railway project.

"May this friendship between our two peoples endure for another thousand years," he told the visiting official.