By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday assured the public that it will release copies of all deals signed between the Philippine and Chinese governments during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manila.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark following several documents and other information requests in relation to Xi’s visit.
Panelo appealed to the public, as well as the media, to patiently wait for the documents since the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other concerned agencies remain busy until Xi leaves the country.
“The Palace takes into account that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which is the Office of Primary Responsibility during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country, is still preoccupied with activities on Day 2 of the Chinese leader’s visit,” Panelo said in a press statement.
“We therefore ask for everyone’s understanding, especially the media, in this regard,” he added.
Panelo, meanwhile, assured that immediately after verifying all documents in relation to Xi’s visit, they will be released to the public.
“We assure everyone that the government would release all pertinent information for public consumption once President Xi’s visit has culminated, and as soon as the complete, proper, and correct documents become certified and available,” Panelo said.
On Monday, the governments of the Philippines and China inked a total of 29 agreements. Among the top deals is the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation on oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea.
Other deals are as follows:
* Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative
* Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development between the Philippines and China
* Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Service Institute of the Republic of the Philippines and the China Foreign Affairs University of the People’s Republic of China
* Executive Program of the Cultural Agreement between the Philippines and China for 2019-2023
* Memorandum of Understanding on Basic Education Cooperation between the Department of Education of the Philippines and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
* Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China
* Memorandum of Understanding between the Cooperative Development Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on strengthening the building of agricultural cooperatives
* Infrastructure Cooperation Program between the two governments
* Program for Cooperation on Industrial Parks Development
* Handover Certificate of Emergency Humanitarian Cash Assistance
* Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promoting the Cooperation in Key Infrastructure Projects in Davao Region between the Department of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and Handover of Certificate of Humanitarian Cash Assistance
* Implementation of the Agreement of the Feasibility Study for Davao City Expressway Project and the Implementation Agreement of the Feasibility Study for Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project
* Memorandum of Understanding on Renminbi Clearing Arrangement
* Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Young Coconuts from the Philippines to China between the Department of Agriculture and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Protocol of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Frozen Fruits from the Philippines to China between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China
* Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Philippines and China and the Memorandum of Understanding on Supporting Feasibility Study of Major Projects between the Department of Finance and China International Development Cooperation
* Exchange of Letters on Project of Container Inspection Equipment
* Exchange of Letters on Project of Davao River Bridge Project (Bucana)
* Exchange of Letters on China Aid Bridge and Road Project in Marawi
* Memorandum of Understanding on Panda Bonds Issuance
* Loan Agreement on New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project
* Commercial Contract of Safe Philippines Project, Phase I
* Commercial Contract of the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project
* Framework Agreement for Industrial Park between BCDA and Gezhouba
* Contract for the Project Management Consultancy of the Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul Project (North-South Railway Project)
* Letter of No Objection to the Organization of the Renminbi-Philippine Peso Foreign Exchange Trading Market
* Certificate of Authority to Operate for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited-Manila Branch
