PH, China sign 14 agreements

Beijing to extend 11.15-B grant for Marawi rehab

The Philippines and China signed Wednesday a total of 14 agreements in various areas of cooperation. The signing was witnessed by President Duterte and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang after their expanded bilateral meeting in Malacañang Wednesday.

Two of the 14 deals were the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Jointly Promoting on Second Basket of Key Infrastructure Projects Cooperation between the Philippines’ Department of Finance and China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The two agreements were signed by Department of Fi-

nance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying.

The Exchange of Letters on Project of Dangerous Drugs Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers was signed by Fu and Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

The Exchange of Letters on Project of Two Bridges Across Pasig River was signed by Fu and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

Fu also signed with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez the MOU for Cooperation on Industrial Parks Development between the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry and China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The MOU on Jointly Promoting the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project Cooperation between the Philippines’ Department of Transportation and China’s Ministry of Commerce was signed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Fu.

The Implementation Framework for the Memorandum of Understanding and Development of Project List for Cooperation in Production Capacity and Investment between the Philippines’ National Economic and Development Authority and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) was signed by Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia and NDRC Vice Chairman Zhang Yong.

Zhang signed with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu the MOU between the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources and China’s NDRC concerning the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui signed the MOU on Defense Industry Cooperation between the Philippines’ Department of National Defense and China’s State Administration of Science Technology Industry of the National Defense.

Zhang and Intellectual Property Office Director General Josephine Santiago signed the MOU between the Philippines’ Intellectual Property Office and China’s State Intellectual Property on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property.

The MOU the Philippines’ National Youth Commission (NYC) and the AllChina Youth Federation on Strengthening Youth Cooperation was signed by NYC Chairperson Cariza Seguerra and Zhang.

The Republic of the Philippines 2017 Renminbi Bond Issuance Underwriting Agreement was signed by Dominguez and Bank of China Limited Chairman Chen Siqing.

Lastly, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Gregorio Garcia III and China Development Bank Chairman Hu Huaibang signed the MOU between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and China Development Bank.

11.15-B Marawi aid Li, who described the warmth of the Philippines-China relationship to the temperature of Manila, said that the Chinese government will extend 150 million Renminbi (RMB), or 11.15 billion, worth of grants for the rehabilitation of the war-torn city of Marawi, Lanao del Sur.

“The Chinese side supports the efforts made by Mr. President and the Philippine government in upholding the security and stability of your country,” Li said.

“The Chinese government will provide 150 million RMB of grants for the rebuilding and improvement of livelihood in Marawi to demonstrate the support of the Chinese people,” he added.

According to Li, he believes that Duterte will be able to restore Marawi to its former glory, if not able to improve it.

“We have full confidence that under your leadership, Mr. President, and the leadership of your government, the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early date and the local people will embrace an even better life,” he said.

China appreciates PH

According to Li, China has been “heartened by the boom in the practical cooperation between our two countries.”

He noted how after the first 10 months of this year, China has become the Philippines’ top trading partner, with China having imported some 13,000 batches of tropical fruits from the Philippines and 14 new flights have been opened between the two countries.

“We are expecting that the Chinese tourists will make some one million trips to the Philippines by the end of this year,” Li said.

Li also said that the practical cooperation between the two countries in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture and poverty alleviation has also been going strong.