ShareThisPresident Benigno S. Aquino III embarked on a five-day state visit to China that is dominated by discussions on expanding bilateral ties, specially trade and investments with one of the world’s biggest economies.
Supporting the President in the discussions are members of his Cabinet that include Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Energy Secretary Rene Almendras. A group of over 200 Philippine business representatives, representing the Who’s Who in the country’s business, is also accompanying the presidential delegation in the hope of clinching major investment deals.
The Chief Executive’s state visit which came at the invitation of President Hu Jintao will take him to Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen, where he will meet top Chinese officials and key business leaders. In Beijing, the Chief Executive was scheduled to meet President Hu in a bilateral meeting, followed by the signing of economic agreements and a state banquet. President Aquino was also to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and legislators, including Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and members of the Filipino community in the Chinese capital.
In Shanghai, the President will meet with local officials and major business groups and sign agreements aimed to boost trade ties. He will also hold a meeting with the Filipinos based in this premier economic hub. President Aquino’s last stop is Xiamen, which visit includes a trip to Hongjian Village in Fujian province where he will view the araucaria tree planted in 1988 by his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino. The President will then plant his own tree in the village and interact with the members of the Xu (Co) clan, where his late mother traced her ancestral roots more than two decades ago.
Many observers in the region and the world are closely watching the President’s visit, especially his pronouncements on the disputes on the claims on the disputed Spratlys in South China Sea by both Manila and Beijing as well and four other countries. The claims in whole or in part of six countries over Spratlys group of islands is considered a flashpoint of armed conflict in the region.
A hint on what to expect in the visit on the Spratlys dispute was provided by Mr. Aquino himself in his pronouncements before he left Manila for Beijing. He stressed that strengthened ties, gaining greater cooperation beyond economy is the theme of his visit to China, adding that an enhanced relationship would be for Manila’s interest. Citing the indigenous marble-like stone called “piedra de china,” he said it symbolizes the strength and mutuality of neighborly relations, wherein China’s progress and development would rub on the Philippines. He said Piedra de china represents the building blocks of relationships, where each piece contributes to the stability of the others, each needing the other for support.
However, it would be too naïve of any of the Philippine officials to believe that this invitation for a state visit by China to the Philippines didn’t have China’s interest over the Spratlys at heart. All these trade investments in the Philippines are well worth the oil it can get back from the islands.