HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the importance of the relationship between the Philippines and China during her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, November 21.
Xi arrived Tuesday, November 20, for a two-day state visit. Before leaving the country at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, he met with Arroyo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III at a hotel in Manila.
In her speech during the meeting, Arroyo thanked Xi for China’s support to the Philippines’ development as she noted that the cooperation between China and the Philippines over the past two years has been very good.
“The all-around cooperation between China and the Philippines over the past two years has been very good indeed, perhaps as good as it has ever been,” she said.
Arroyo attributed the good relationship between China and Philippines to President Rodrigo Duterte’s “positive attitude” and Xi’s “enlightened attitude.”
Arroyo also said the relationship between China and the Philippines is very important. She cited five reasons for saying so.
“One reason is geography. Good relations between neighbors is always priority. A second reason is that, China is increasingly involved not only in bilateral dealings but collectively, such as through ASEAN. Third reason is that China’s economy is the most dynamic among the neighboring nations,” she said.
“A fourth factor is that domestically, the Philippines has a vibrant Filipino-Chinese community for whom increased business dealings with China is very natural. And fifth, infrastructure will be very important for the Philippines in the coming years. And there is no country in the world that matches China’s recent track record and capability in this area,” she added.
Arroyo was accompanied by Representative Feliciano Belmonte, Deputy Speaker Arthur Yap, Rep. Ricky Sandoval and Rep. Dennis Loagan, among others.
Meanwhile, the members of the Senate contingent who joined Sotto were Sen. Ralph Recto, Sen. Ping Lacson, Sen. Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Gringo Honasan.
Also in attendance were Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., other Philippine senators, and government officials. (SunStar Philippines)