On 29 June 2017, Chinese Media Delegation participating in the third Chinese Media Reporting Trip to ASEAN organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) exchanged views with representatives of Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) on the Philippines-China economic cooperation and trade.

Dr. Francis Chua, Chairman Emeritus of PCCI, warmly welcomed the delegation and highly commended the efforts ACC has made for practical cooperation between the Philippines and China. He stated that the people of both sides support the development of bilateral relations. The two countries enjoy notable economic complementarities and broad cooperation prospects. The recent improvements in bilateral relations have brought great opportunities for economic cooperation between both sides. Following this trend, PCCI organized forums for the Belt and Road Initiative, mutual visits of businessmen and several events in order to help both sides’ enterprises to match up with each other and offer consultation to Chinese companies in the Philippines. He expected the delegation could learn more about the Philippines and let the Chinese public better understand the Philippine investment environment so as to make contributions to the practical cooperation between the Philippines and China.

Mr. Nelson Chua, Chairman of Golden Mindanao Global Holding Company, Mr. Joseph C. Sy, Chairman of Mining Committee of PCCI, and Mr. Armando S. Soriano, President of Bell Electronics Corporation, respectively briefed potentials and progresses of the Philippines-China trade and investment cooperation in agriculture, mining, household appliances and other fields. They expressed the readiness to expand connections with Chinese enterprises to open up more markets. Mr. Zhuang Mingdeng, Associate Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Commercial News and Secretary-General of Philippine Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, and Dr. Lily Lim, Editor-in-Chief of Asia-Pacific Chinese Media Company, proposed that they would like to push forward the Philippines-China cultural exchanges and media cooperation to foster an enabling environment for bilateral economic cooperation and trade.

H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC, outlined the recent work and mandate of ACC and spoke highly of the efforts PCCI made for the Philippines-China friendly exchanges and cooperation. She mentioned that ACC would continue to serve as a bridge and bond to maintain close contacts with PCCI and other institutions so as to offer more useful platforms for bilateral cooperation and help raise the Philippines-China relations and ASEAN-China relations to higher levels.