Fil-Chi Economic & Trade Cooperation and Development Seminar Was Held by ICC in Beijing

In order to promote China and the Philippines to adhere to good-neighborliness and friendship and develop healthy and stable bilateral relations, and further deepen China-Philippines mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, trade, investment and science & technology, fil-Chi Economic & Trade Cooperation and Development Seminar, organized by China ICC Council and relevant units, was held at the Crane Xian He Hall of Beijing International Club on September 28. Chen Jinhang, a member of the National Committee of CPPCC and former Chairman of China Datang Corporation, delivered a speech on behalf of China; Albert P. Dela Cruz, Director of the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC), delivered a video speech. The seminar was presided over by Zhang Chongqing, a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee, ICC and Honorary Chairman of China Group Companies Association (CGCA).

Keynote speech from Mr. Chen Jinhang

 Mr. Chen delivered a keynote speech titled Adhering to Good-Neighborliness and Friendship and Deepening China-Philippines Mutually Beneficial Cooperation. He said that the success of the Asia-Pacific economy benefits from open cooperation, mutual benefits and win-win results. In the past six years, under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state, China and Philippines re-started friendly cooperation, achieved fruitful results in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, and made important contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity. China's "Belt and Road" initiative was deeply integrated with the Philippines’ "Build, Build, Build" plan to contribute to regional economic recovery, prosperity and development and further promote bilateral economic cooperation and unity. He hoped that people of insight from China and the Philippines will take advantage of the general development trend of bilateral relations and continue China-Philippines friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation to benefit the two countries and two peoples.

Keynote speech from Mr. Albert P. Dela Cruz

 Albert P. Dela Cruz delivered a video speech on behalf of the Philippines. He stated that this year marks the beginning of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, which coincides with the inauguration of the new Philippine government. As a friendly neighbor, the economic and trade cooperation between the Philippines and China has been continuously deepened in recent years. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the complex and volatile international and regional situation, the Philippines and China have understood and supported each other to further deepen bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation. China has become the Philippines' largest trading partner and major source of foreign investment for six consecutive years, highlighting the strong resilience and huge potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Albert P. Dela Cruz said he is full of confidence in the future better and stronger development of Philippines-China economic and trade relations, and willing to work with the guests attending the seminar and people from all walks of life in the Philippines and China who care about and support the Philippine-China economic and trade relations to continuously inject new impetus into the development of Philippines-China friendly relations.

During the seminar

 Zheng Haojun, Director of the National Communication Center for Science and Technology, CAST, and Hon.Dinno M. Oblena, Charge d'Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in China, made wonderful speeches on behalf of the support units of China and the Philippines. Emmanuel Ang, Commercial Counselor of the Philippine Embassy in China, Li Zhiqi, Vice Chairman of Beijing Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Dai Huiquan, President of Beijing Association of Returned Overseas Chinese From the Philippines, delivered speeches successively. The representatives of China Communications Construction Company, Sinograin, China Southern Airlines, State Development & Investment Corporation and other Chinese enterprises, Liwayway (China) Chairman Larry Chan and Philippine entrepreneur representatives delivered speeches in succession. The participating representatives unanimously believed that a strong bilateral relationship will keep Chinese investors interested in the Philippines, and the growing market and industries in the Philippines will also provide more opportunities for Chinese enterprises to constantly inject new impetus into the development of bilateral friendly relations. This is the desire of the two peoples and the goal that the participating guests hope to achieve.

Theme speech from Mr. Zheng Haojun

Theme speech from Hon. Dinno M. Oblena

 Zhang Chongqing made a concluding speech for the seminar. He pointed out that this seminar was supported by the relevant state departments and the National Communication Center for Science and Technology, CAST and included in the "2022 Overseas Mass Entrepreneurship and Mass Innovation" series of activities. The seminar was very successful at which all the participants offered correct and penetrating views on China-Philippines economic and trade cooperation and development. He said that China and the Philippines are a friendly neighbor connected by a stream, blood and culture. It is the only correct choice to establish good neighborly and friendly relations between China and the Philippines, a developing country and an emerging economy in Asia, which is also the common desire of the two peoples. As one of the five founding members of ASEAN, the Philippines has always been an important participant, promoter and builder of the development of China-ASEAN relations.

Conclusion by Mr. Zhang Chongqing

Zhang Chongqing said that this year is the first year of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China will continue to promote the high-quality implementation of the RCEP, and work with the Philippines to push China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation to a new level and make important contributions to boosting regional economic integration and common prosperity and promoting the recovery of world economy and sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific. He hoped that all the people who have long cared about and supported the friendly relationship between China and the Philippines will join hands to consolidate and promote the traditional friendship between China and the Philippines, deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation, and inject new strong impetus into the good neighborly and friendly relations in the new era so as to benefit the two peoples.