Soundbites

Today, more than 700 delegates are attending the forum, from sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, electricity, finance, electronics, telecommunications and tourism. Their proactive participation in the forum showcases the earnest wish for in-depth exchanges of view and reinforced cooperation.

The Philippines shares a long history of a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship with China, not only in terms of trade and investment, but also in cultural and social exchanges. We also recognize how the Philippine-China economic relations have matured through generations. The trade and investment relationship has had its highs and lows, but China remains a major commercial partner.

The market in the Philippines signals huge potential, as it enjoys a population of around 100 million, as well as a middle class of more than 20 million people. This already showcases enormous demand. The number of businesspeople joining Duterte’s visit has surged from around 100 (registered trade delegates) to more than 400, and the actual number of them coming to Beijing may be 900. ... The Philippine tourism authorities have the hope that the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country— currently 400,000 annually— could rise to 2 million in the next year.

I think the most positive thing is that there will be greater cooperation in business. I’ve already said that we will host three or four meetings (of business representatives from both countries) and more conferences. This is people-to-people orientation.

Jiang Zengwei, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade

Carmen N. Pedrosa, journalist and columnist at The Philippine Star newspaper

Ramon M. Lopez, Philippine secretary of Trade and Industry

Johnson Cheng, president of Philippine Straits Travel Agency