PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. said the country will strengthen its close ties with China as it now pushes to undergo “modernization” under the leadership of newly-reelected Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the China-funded Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project on Thursday, Marcos said he is looking toward more similar joint initiatives with the Chinese government.
“We look forward to building upon the directions that your President—that President Xi Jinping has given to the People’s Republic of China in partnership with the Philippines. We look forward to continuing to strengthen and to bring closer our two countries,” Marcos said.
Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party Conference (CPC) last week.
Marcos lauded China for its continuous support to the country’s infrastructure projects including the SIDC.
The construction of the 3.98-kilometer bridge, which will connect Samal Island and Davao City, will be funded through a loan agreement worth $350 million or P18.67 billion entered into between the Philippines and China.
“This is not the only project that we have depended upon, the concessional loans and even grants from the government of the People’s Republic of China, and it is clear to see the benefits that those projects bring to our people, to our economy, and to the Philippines,” Marcos said.
Once completed by 2027, the bridge is expected to help in the recovery of Davao and Samal Island from pandemic-induced economic disruption.
He said it will also help improve the peace and order situation in Samal Island, as well as in the distribution of government aid in the island during calamities.
For his part, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the Chinese government is ready to include in its modernization initiative, which he said “resonates” with the country’s own economic and livelihood targets.
“Looking ahead, great potential is to be exploited for China-Philippine cooperation,” Xilian said.
He said China is looking for more cooperation with the country in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.
Ties with a China ‘modernizing’ under Xi will be boosted: PBBM
Source: News Paper Radio
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