BEIJING, China -- An official of the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China said that China and member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN), including the Philippines, have entered into a new era of mutual cooperation and deeper understanding in various fields.
Chen Yao, deputy director general of the International Liaison Bureau of the State Council Information Office, said since China started to open into the outside world, a new era of mutual ties between China and the ASEAN countries evolved in the fields of trade and commerce, tourism and mass communications.
“(This is) through goods and people-to-people exchanges. Since Chinese government embarked on a policy of opening to the outside world, it provided vast opportunities to our neighboring countries, including the Philippines, that enhance mutual cooperation and understanding,” Chen said during the recently-concluded 2018 Seminar for Information Officers and Journalists from the Philippines.
He particularly cited last year’s trade volume between China and ASEAN countries which exceeded to USD500 billion.
In the next 15 years, Chen said China is expected to import US24 trillion worth of goods in the neighboring countries, including the Philippines.
He also noted China’s hosting of the first international import and export expo set in November this year.
In the people-to-people exchanges, he said the new era of deeper linkages was also noted with the increasing number of students studying either in China and the ASEAN countries.
“It is increasing steadily and rapidly the past years,“ Chen said.
In the field of tourism, he also noted the rising number of tourists from China visiting the ASEAN countries or vice-versa.
“China is becoming the largest source of tourists for the Philippines as well as Thailand and other ASEAN countries. Likewise, there is a rising number of tourists from ASEAN countries, including the Philippines visiting China,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chen underscored the important role of media that could further boost mutual cooperation and understanding between the Philippines and China.
"Media plays a very important role in our friendship and cooperation,” he said.
Chen further said the State Council Information Office is happy and ready to promote the bilateral relationships of the Philippines and China not only in films, videos, but also in joint coverage of events.
“With more news that can be heard, read and watched, and also interactive and shareable, I hope we can together present a more colorful, more united and more hot news on China and Philippines relationships,” he added. (PNA)
