By Prince Golez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has committed to strengthen ties between the Philippines and China.
The country’s relations with China must not be defined by their innate differences, but by their similarities, common purpose and shared goals, Marcos Jr. said during the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) Award Ceremony at the Manila Hotel.
The President said his administration would work to strengthen this relationship and make it more comprehensive and strategic.
“It is my firm belief that our relationship must not be defined by our innate differences. We may have such differences; all friends do. But we recognize in the Philippines the commitment of President Xi and the People’s Republic of China to overcome such difficulties and I can assure our good Ambassador here that that commitment also is present in the Philippines’ efforts to bring us closer together — the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China. So let us be bound rather by our similarities, our common purpose, our shared goals,” he said Thursday.
“As a guiding principle, we will pursue constant dialogue and an amicable approach to our decision-making and the resolution of issues. Being a peace-loving nation, we will adhere, for all intents and purposes, to the fundamental adage that good communication is key to a good relationship.” he added.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. said the awarding ceremony is a fitting prelude to the celebration of the 48th year of the formal establishment of the Philippines-China relations, which has been a boon to Philippines’ economic strength over the years.
China has been the country’s top partner in terms of total trade: ranking first as its import source; and, second, as Philippines’ export destination, the chief executive said, noting that China and its Special Administrative Regions are also second-home to a substantial number of overseas Filipinos.
He also appreciated the Association for Philippines-China Understanding’s initiative for organizing the event, and mentioned the contributions of former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte to the country’s development.
APPCU, a joint undertaking spearheaded by the APCU and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, is a novel award-giving body that pays special tribute to Filipinos who have made efforts in strengthening friendly ties and promoting mutual understanding between the Philippines and China.
