CHINA’S ‘G-TO-G’ COOPERATION IN PHILIPPINES
CHINESE Ambassador Huang Xilian held a video conference on July 31 with Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) exchanging views on how to overCOME THE NEGATIVE INflUENCES CAUSED BY THE Covid-19 pandemic and promote the DPWH-charged G-to-G cooperation projects between China and the Philippines. Under Secretary Emil Sadain of DPWH and Minister Counsellor Jiang Jianjun of the Chinese Embassy joined the virtual meeting.
Ambassador Huang appreciated the efforts the Philippine side has made to fulfill the consensus of President Xi Jinping and President Duterte and to promote the G-toG cooperation projects between China and the Philippines. The
Philippine economic team and the Chinese Embassy have maintained an effective mechanism of communication and cooperation. During the trying times of the pandemic, they have worked even more closely and vigorously with each other and adopted many creative ways to push forward the implementation of the projects.
Up until now, the projects under implementation have resumed operation at over 80 percent capacity. In light of the severity of the current Covid-19 situation, Ambassador Huang encouraged both teams to carry out more innovative ways to further strengthen their communication and cooperation in the future. He hoped more and more projects would be launched and implemented in the near future, and that the people of both countries would enjoy the tangible benefits released by the synergies of the Belt and Road Initiative and “Build, Build, Build” program at an earlier date.
Secretary Villar expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the teams of both sides and commended the smooth progress of the DPWH-charged G-to-G cooperation projects. He expressed his willingness to work closely with the Chinese side in fighting against the Covid-19 and pushing forward all concerned projects, so as to build up the highlight of the infrastructure cooperation projects and bring more benefits to the local people.
DPWH has taken charge of the implementation of 14 G-to-G cooperation projects between China and the Philippines. Three projects have been completed, while the other 11 are being implemented smoothly, among which the two bridges project in Manila is expected to be completed within this government’s term.