Aquino starts 5-day state visit to China

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino lll flew to China Tuesday  for a five-day state visit accompanied by the country’s most influential businessmen.

The visit, which will cost taxpayers P25 million, will focus on expanding trade and investments with the world’s second largest economy.

“The primary objective of the President’s visit is to further strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and China, especially in the aspect of trade and commerce,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said.

The President took a special commercial flight to China with Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Energy Secretary Rene Almendras. 

Some 200 businessmen were with Aquino, including John Gokongwei, Jr,  Founder/Chairman Emeritus, of JG Summit Holdings, Inc; Washington Sycip, founding chairman of SGV & Co., Jose T. Pardo, chairman of the PCCI Council of Business Leader; Tony Tan Caktiong, chairman and CEO ,Jollibee Foods Corporation; Antonio Cojuangco, chairman, Nabasan Subic Development Corp.; George Ty, group chairman, Metrobank; Teresita Sy Coson, co-chairperson SM Investments Corporation; Carlos Chan, chairman, Liwayway Holdings; Ramon S. Ang, president and CEO, San Miguel Corporation; Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman, PLDT Co.; Dr Lucio C. Tan, Andrew Tan, chairman of Allied Group Inc. (Megaworld); Erramon I. Aboitiz, president  and CEO Equity Ventures; Alfredo M. Yao, chairman, Zesto Corporation; Tan Ching, Federation of  Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and Francis Chua, president of PCCU–PCBC.

Aquino will be making stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

“President Aquino will be meeting Chinese businessmen and economic policy-makers, and given the potential of both our economies, we hope to close investment deals that will be beneficial for all those involved,” Ochoa said.

In Beijing, Aquino will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, followed by the signing of economic agreements and a state banquet.