MANILA, July 24 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday thanked China for the assistance it extended to the Philippines, including two bridges the Chinese government has committed to build “for free” across Pasig River to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
President Duterte expressed his gratitude through Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhao, one of the diplomats who attended his second state of the nation address (SONA) at the joint opening of the 17th Congress’ second regular session at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
”I traveled to China and make friends with them. The ambassador is here, Ambassador Zhao, thank you for the help,” President Duterte said while looking towards the area of the diplomatic corps members.
”As a matter of fact, they said, if your Congress has no money, we will give you the money, and China has committed to build two bridges to span Pasig river, free of charge, so that you will be comfortable in crossing Pasig,” he added.
President Duterte also said the Philippines might get some money from China to build new airports.
Under President Duterte’s leadership, the Philippines and China relations has made a huge turnaround after Duterte decided to temporarily shelve an arbitral tribunal’s ruling in the South China Sea.
The popular Filipino leader has actually made two productive visits to China upon invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In his first visit in October last year, President Duterte brought home US24 billion dollar worth of investment pledges and infrastructure projects.
He returned to Beijing last May for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and to witness the signing of several agreements including China’s RMB500 million (PHP3.5 billion) grant to the Philippines to conduct feasibility studies for major projects, construction of the drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center and bridges crossing the Pasig river.
In recent media interview, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana has said China would also invest USD3.5 billion for the construction of other infrastructure projects like Chico river irrigation project, Kaliwa Dam and South line railway from Laguna to Bicol.
Sta. Romana said the Mindanao railway section in Davao along with a long bridge from Panay Island via Negros to Guimaras Island would hopefully start next year.
China has also lifted restrictions on the import of bananas and pineapples from the Philippines while more Chinese tourists are now coming to the Philippines.
Recently, China has donated thousands of guns worth USD7.35 million to the Philippines to help the military in its war against terrorists, including Islamist gunmen in conflict-torn Marawi City.
Sta. Romana said China-Philippines relations have been revived due to two-track approach that Duterte administration has taken to settle the South China Sea dispute.
He explained the one track approach involves non-contentious issues like trade, economic, infrastructures and people-to-people exchanges while another track refers to contentious issues such as sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction.
In his second SONA, President Duterte said the Philippines has nurtured good relations with China and other countries based on his independent foreign policy.
”We have embarked on various initiatives to advance our national interest in the global community. We pursue good relations with all nations anchored on an independent foreign policy and the basic tenet of sovereignty equality, mutual respect and non-interference,” President Duterte said.
“We have cultivated better relations with China through bilateral dialogues and order mechanisms leading to easing of tensions between the two countries and improved negotiating environment in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
The President said the Philippines will strengthen and seek partnership with countries “who share our values.”
”We will engage nations with full respect for the rule of law, sovereign equality and non-interference,” he said. (Jelly F. Musico/PNA)#DUTERTESONA2017