PH, China foreign ministers meet; Wang says China always deems PH a 'priority' (Sabong News)
Author
Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Date
APRIL 04 2022
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines has always been a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy as he reiterated his country’s commitment to speeding up the construction of key infrastructure projects in the Philippines.
Wang made this statement during his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday, April 3.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines wrote that the two foreign ministers met when Locsin visited Tunxi in East China’s Anhui Province.
During their meeting, Wang said that the Philippines is a good neighbor of China.
“Wang said China always takes the Philippines as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and China’s good-neighborly and friendly policy toward the Philippines has maintained continuity and stability,” the Embassy’s statement read.
Likewise, the Chinese official renewed China’s commitment to helping the Philippines with infrastructure and pandemic response.
“China is ready to speed up the construction of key infrastructure projects with the Philippines, and continue to provide Covid-19 vaccine assistance and enhance public health cooperation according to the need of the Philippines,” Wang said.
According to the Chinese Embassy, both leaders likewise discussed the issue of the West Philippine Sea. They agreed that this should not be the total of the relationship between the two Asian countries and that maritime issues should be placed in an appropriate position in bilateral relations.
“The two sides should remove disturbances, calmly and properly manage differences and not let them affect the overall situation of China-Philippines relations,” Wang said.
Meanwhile, Locsin said the Philippines-China relations have become increasingly mature, and bilateral practical cooperation has achieved historic results, bringing lasting benefits to both sides.
“As a responsible major country, China is committed to independence and peaceful development, setting a new example in a turbulent world,” the Embassy said, supposedly quoting Locsin.
“China has long promoted the development of other countries in the region through its own development and played an irreplaceable role in global economic growth,” it furthered.
Last month, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago ‘Chito’ Sta. Romana and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian agreed that the past six years provided a “
” for the relationship between the countries.
