Leaders of the ICC met with Benito Techico, Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines for China Affairs

On September 27, on behalf of the International Cooperation Center (ICC), Zhang Chongqing, member of the Strategy Advisory Committee of the ICC and Honorary President of the China Group Companies Association (CGCA), along with other leaders, met with Mr. Benito Techico, Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to China for Trade, Investments, and Tourism in Beijing, and had in-depth exchanges with him on the issues of common concern such as China-Philippines trade, investment and tourism cooperation.

Zhang Chongqing and Benito Techico (left)

Mr. Zhang briefed Mr. Benito on the overview of the Joint Council of the ICC and its crucial role in China-Philippines relations. He said that China and the Philippines are close in geographical proximity, people-to-people relations, cultural ties, as well as economic and trade exchanges. Recent years have witnessed constant achievements in China-Philippines economic and trade cooperation. China has been the Philippines’ largest trading partner for seven consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching 87.725 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Moreover, China has become the Philippines’ largest export market for the first seven months of 2023. Earlier this year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid a successful visit to China, during which the two heads of state reached agreement on carrying out economic and trade innovation and development cooperation. In January, the State Council of China has approved the establishment of a China-Philippines joint demonstration zone for economic innovative development in Zhangzhou, Fujian province. Under the joint efforts of people from all walks of life in China and the Philippines, continuous progress has been made in the fields of trade and investment between two sides, showing broad prospects for China-Philippines development.

Benito Techico is writing a message for the ICC.

Mr. Benito Techico said that he accompanied Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his state visit to China at the beginning of this year. During the visit, the Philippines and China issued a joint statement and signed cooperation agreements in various fields such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy and culture, in order to deepen the economic cooperation between the two countires. In July, the China (Zhangzhou)-Philippines Economic and Trade Cooperation and Exchange Conference and the launching ceremony of the China (Zhangzhou)-Philippines Economic and Trade Innovation and Development Cooperation Park was successfully held in Manila, marking the implementation stage of the “two countries, twin parks” cooperation between China and the Philippines. He said the Philippines will fully tap the advantages of its geographical location and resources, and bring new opportunities in win-win cooperation for the Philippines’ economic recovery and social development through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Since China is a major stakeholder in regional economic cooperation, cooperation between the Philippines and China in various fields will embrace broad prospects under the framework of RCEP. In addition, he hoped to maintain close contact with the Joint Council of the ICC, so as to continuously promote the growth of trade, investment and tourism between the two sides, and to actively enhance bilateral friendship for a brighter future of two peoples.

A group photo of the two sides 

Both sides agreed that China and the Philippines should follow the essential consensus reached by the two heads of state, view China-Philippines relations from a strategic and holistic perspective, as well as be good neighbors who support each other, good relatives who know each other well, and good partners who cooperate with each other for win-win results. Guided by the blueprint for cooperation jointly drawn up by the two heads of state at the beginning of the year, the two sides should push forward the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ Build Build Build program, combining cooperation in the four key areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and culture with the construction of China-Philippines joint demonstration zone for economic innovative development, raising China-Philippines economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation to new heights.

Wu Zhonglin, Executive Director of the Development Committee of the ICC and Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Working Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party Beijing Municipal Committee, Wilson Techico, Vice President of Uni Orient Travel Inc., the Philippines, Xin Shaosong, Deputy Director of the Office of the ICC, and Jerika Marquez, Assistant to the Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to China for trade, investments, tourism, participated in the meeting.

Related information:

Mr. Benito Techico, Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines for China Affairs, inscribed a message for the ICC:

Deepen the traditional friendship between the Philippines and China and open a new chapter of comprehensive strategic cooperation.

To CHINA ICC

   BENITO G. TECHICO

   SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE PRESIDENT 

   FOR TRADE, INVESTMENT AND TOURISM

       September 27, 2023