China News Service, Manila, May 9th. "Faced with the rapidly changing international situation and global challenges such as the new crown epidemic, it is very important to continue to develop a healthy, stable and friendly China-Philippines relationship. China-Philippines relations will be strengthened after trials and tests. Peace and closeness." Huang Xilian, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, received an exclusive online interview with China Central Radio and Television’s Voice of China special program "Great Power Diplomacy" in Manila on May 9 to talk about China-Philippines relations, China-Philippines anti-epidemic cooperation, and South China Sea issues. And other topics.

　　China-Philippines relations have made great progress in various fields

　　Huang Xilian stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in June 1975, win-win cooperation has always been the main theme of China-Philippine relations.

　　——Political relations continue to improve.

During President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines in 2018, the two countries announced the establishment of a "comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship." The leaders of the two countries maintained close communication and drew a grand strategic blueprint for the development of China-Philippines relations.

　　-Practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results.

China has become the Philippines' largest trading partner, the largest source of imports, the third largest export market, and the second largest source of foreign investment.

China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative and the “Build, Build, Build” plan of the Philippines are deeply connected.

　　——People-to-people and cultural exchanges are developing vigorously.

In 2019, more than 1.7 million Chinese tourists visited the Philippines.

China has become the Philippines' second largest source of tourists for many years.

　　-International cooperation is getting closer.

China and the Philippines have similar positions and views on major regional and international issues and have always maintained close cooperation and coordination.

During the period when the Philippines served as the coordinator of China-ASEAN relations, it played a constructive role in promoting the in-depth development of China-ASEAN cooperation.

　　-The two countries are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The two sides tried to manage their differences through bilateral consultation mechanisms and other channels, and did not allow differences to hinder the development of bilateral relations.

In fact, the two countries have carried out a lot of cooperation across the South China Sea.

Nowadays, there are many ships and airplanes carrying various anti-epidemic materials that shuttle back and forth between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea every day, striving to make this sea truly a sea of ​​friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance.

　　China-Philippines anti-epidemic cooperation continues to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the new era

　　Huang Xilian said that there was an outbreak in China at the beginning of last year. The chartered flight from the Philippines to Wuhan brought anti-epidemic materials provided by the Philippine government.

The overseas Chinese in the Philippines donated anti-epidemic materials and funds to the country through the embassy channel alone, worth nearly 70 million yuan.

　　After the outbreak in the Philippines in March 2019, China assisted the Philippines with a series of anti-epidemic materials such as protective equipment, testing reagents, and ventilators; dispatched a team of medical experts to the Philippines, and assisted the Philippines in purchasing and transporting a large amount of anti-epidemic materials in China.

　　Since the beginning of this year, China has provided two batches of vaccine assistance to the Philippines and has given priority to assisting the Philippines in purchasing Chinese vaccines.

So far, 5 million doses of Chinese vaccines have been shipped to the Philippines, becoming the “main force” of Philippine vaccination, accounting for 90% of the number of vaccines obtained in the Philippines, and strongly supporting the Philippine national vaccination plan.

　　According to incomplete statistics, more than 50 Chinese-funded enterprises operating in the Philippines directly and indirectly provided about 150,000 jobs to the Philippines during the epidemic.

The major overseas Chinese communities in the Philippines have established the Anti-epidemic Committee of the Chinese Society's Disaster Relief Fund, which is doing a lot of work to stabilize the Filipinos.

　　Properly resolve differences through friendly consultations to maintain bilateral relations and maritime peace and stability

　　In response to the recent fluctuations in the South China Sea issue, Huang Xilian said that China and the Philippines are neighbors that cannot be moved. It is normal for the neighbors to have differences. The key is that the two sides must properly handle their differences in a mature and constructive manner. This is in line with the commonality of the two countries. Interests and the common aspirations of the two peoples.

It is to resolve differences through communication and friendly negotiation, rather than emotional response.

We agree with President Duterte of the Philippines that the differences and contradictions between the Philippines and China on individual issues should not affect the friendship and cooperation between the two sides.

We believe that the two sides should properly resolve differences through friendly consultations in accordance with the important consensus of the two heads of state, promote cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and jointly maintain the overall situation of bilateral relations and maritime peace and stability.

　　China-Philippines mutually beneficial cooperation strengthens endogenous driving force, economic and trade cooperation rises against the trend

　　Huang Xilian introduced that the endogenous driving force of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines is increasing, and various indicators of economic and trade cooperation have risen against the trend.

　　In terms of trade, according to Chinese statistics, the bilateral trade in goods between China and the Philippines will reach US$61.15 billion in 2020, a year-on-year increase of 0.3%.

In the first quarter of 2021, bilateral trade in goods reached 16.49 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 34.7%, achieving substantial growth.

China remains the Philippines' largest trading partner, the largest source of imports, the third largest export destination, and the second largest source of foreign investment.

　　In terms of investment, China's direct investment in non-financial sectors in the Philippines will be US$140 million in 2020, an increase of 1.36 times year-on-year.

In the first quarter of 2021, China's non-financial direct investment in the Philippines was US$27.36 million, a year-on-year increase of 85.2%.

　　In terms of intergovernmental cooperation projects, since President Duterte took office, the two sides have completed 12 projects, currently 7 projects are being implemented, and more than ten projects are under negotiation.

　　Looking forward to the future, Huang Xilian said: "After the test and training of fighting the epidemic together, the foundation of China-Philippines relations has become stronger, people's hearts are more connected, the sense of community is closer, and the Philippine people have a better understanding of who their true friends are. , Who is a reliable partner. I have confidence in the future of China-Philippines relations." (End)