Envoy vows China’s assistance for Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Ambassador Zhao Jianhua of the People’s Republic of China the other day made it clear that he came to Bohol to enhance cooperation between his country and Bohol and boost millennium-old relationship with the Philippines.

Zhao, who was the guest speaker of the 160th Foundation Day of Bohol celebration last July 22, told the crowd at Bohol Cultural Center that he was exploring possibilities for better understanding and enhanced relationship between the two countries, as well as Bohol that has a sisterhood pact with Jiangxi province of China.

The ambassador, while expressing sympathy to the victims of the earthquake last year, said there are now areas where China would be of help to Bohol, such as agriculture, tourism and disaster preparedness and relief operations.

Zhao also told the Boholanos that China had contributed to the increase of tourist arrivals in the Philippines, including Bohol, the latest rate of which was about 17 percent increase or about 430,000 tourists from his country. “There’ll be more Chinese to come,” he assured Boholanos.

China is also ready to share experience and technology in agriculture development for Bohol, he said, adding that Bohol and China have one thing in common, such as on rice as the staple food. Bohol would one day become the rice granary of the Philippines, he said.

Zhao further assured Boholanos that his country is willing to provide assistance in disaster relief during calamities, and even disaster relief trainings, citing his country’s disaster when an earthquake struck and killed about 800,000 people.

The ambassador, hoping that the friendship between China and Bohol “will last forever,” later received a plaque of appreciation conferred on him by Governor Edgar Chatto and provincial officials during the celebration. (FREEMAN)