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PHILIPPINE-China bilateral relations have undergone tremendous
progress in the last 33 years and will continue to prosper for the
benefit, not only of the two countries, but also for the whole Asian
region.
At Malacañang, President Gloria Arroyo
nominated former Sen. Orlando Mercado as ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary to China.
Mercado would also have a concurrent
jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia Chinese Foreign Affairs
Asst. Minister He Yafei assured Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia
Cataumber Brady that Philippine-China relations will continue to
progress in the next years.
This was emphasized during the Philippines-China
Friendship Dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, to
celebrate the 110th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine
independence and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of
Philippines-China diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975.
In a report to the Department of Foreign
Affairs, Brady said He Yafei mentioned that political and economic
relations and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries
are so deep and so multifaceted that there is no reason to believe
the programs and projects to benefit both countries should not
continue.
“We hope that our treasures—our friends,
Chinese and Filipinos alike, will continue to play important roles
in bringing Philippines-China bilateral relations to increasing
levels of closeness—relationship where political relations at all
levels, are strong, where economic relations are solid and mutually
beneficial, and where people-to-people relations are extensive,”
Brady stressed.
He Yafei and other government officials who
attended the dinner also expressed gratitude for the Philippine
embassy’s generosity on its efforts for the victims of the
earthquake that hit Sichuan province on May 12.
-- Katrice R. Jalbuena
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