Hu Jintao Holds Talks with President Arroyo of the Philippines
2005-04-27 00:00

On the morning of April 27, 2005, President Hu Jintao held talks with President Arroyo of the Philippines in the presidential residence. Two heads of state expressed their satisfaction with the fruitful development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations 30 years ago, reached important consensus on further boosting the development of China-Philippine relations and both agreed to establish the strategic and cooperative relations between China and the Philippines that aim at the peace and development.

Before the talks, Arroyo held a grand welcome ceremony for Hu Jintao in the presidential residence. The national flags of both countries fluttered in the wind. The sound of salute and national anthems of the two countries echoed in the air. Accompanied by Arroyo, Hu Jintao paraded the honor guard of the Philippines. After the parade, the two heads of state walked to the meeting room. Hu Jintao approached for many times the Philippine youths who came to attend the welcome ceremony and extended his greetings towards them on the way.

During the meeting, on behalf of the Philippine government and people, Arroyo firstly expressed a warm welcome to Hu Jintao's visit to the Philippines. She said that this year is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. With the joint efforts by both sides, Philippine-China relations are in the golden period of development. President Hu's visit is certain to bring an important and far-reaching influence on the further consolidation of bilateral relations.

Hu Jintao expressed that in recent years, China-Philippine relations have been gradually developing. The mutual trust in politics has been obviously enhanced. The substantial cooperation has been increasingly expanded and the common interests are increasing. In 2004, the bilateral trade volume reached over US$ 13.3 billion, a new historic record. The cooperation in such fields as agriculture, fishery, infrastructure construction, mineral resource exploitation and tourism has won a lot of achievements. The exchanges in culture, military affairs, and security have been increasing. China and the Philippine have taken the lead in making breakthrough progresses on the joint exploitation in South China Sea, a commendable step to make South China Sea a sea of friendship and cooperation.

Hu Jintao said that China and the Philippines are two important developing countries in this region. Enhancing China-Philippine friendly cooperation is in the fundamental interests of our two countries and conducive to promoting the regional peace, stability and prosperity. We are willing to work with the Philippine side to actively establish the strategic and cooperative relations between China and the Philippines that aim at the peace and development and jointly create a more beautiful future of China-Philippine relations.

Hu Jintao raised such concrete suggestions on advancing the development of China-Philippine relations as follows. First, both sides will closely cooperate and positively carry out a series of exchange visit plans formulated by the governments, parliaments, military forces and the ruling parties of both countries to celebrate the 30th anniversary of establishing the diplomatic relations so as to bring China-Philippine friendliness into the hearts of both peoples. Second, to push forward the economic and trade cooperation for new progress and try to reach the target that the bilateral trade volume reaches US$ 30 billion in 2010. The cooperative projects in agriculture including China's hybrid rice and maize promotion in the Philippines will be executed. The Chinese side will continue to actively participate in such infrastructure construction as the railway in the Philippines and provide the financing facilitations in its best capability. The cooperative mechanism will be established so as to make the cooperative exploitation of mineral resources the new pillar for China-Philippine economic and trade cooperation. Third, to continue the close cooperation, try to implement the agreement on joint work on the ocean and earthquake in the partial region of South China Sea by the petroleum corporations of China, the Philippines and Vietnam and try to achieve substantial progress in the common exploitation. Fourth, to give full play to China-Philippine defense and security consultative mechanism and drive China-Philippine defense and security cooperation for substantial progress. The effective cooperation in such fields as fighting against drug and transnational crimes will be further strengthened. Fifth, to enhance the exchanges of both countries at various levels, welcome the related provinces and cities of both countries to establish friendly relations, continue to encourage the Chinese citizens to travel to and do business in the Philippines, and hold the 2005 mutual exchange visit activities of one hundred Chinese and Philippine youths. Sixth, to propel China-ASEAN relations for greater progress, continue to support the establishment of ASEAN Community and the integration course and advance the establishment of China-ASEAN free trade area. Seventh, to jointly implement the common consensus reached in the Asia-Africa Summit ended not long ago, continue to enhance the harmony and cooperation between China and the Philippines such multilateral occasions as the United Nations, World Trade Organization and APEC and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Hu Jintao said in the end that since President Arroyo came into power, she has adopted a series of active and substantial policies on boosting the economic and social development and maintaining stability of the country and have won fruitful achievements. Hu believed that the Philippines would gain greater achievements on the road suitable for its own situation.

Arroyo expressed that President Hu's suggestions are of keen insight. The Philippine government deeply believes that the Chinese development is a positive factor in the regional and world peace and development. The establishment of the strategic and commit themselves to the peace and development is the important choice by the Philippine government. She emphasized that the Philippine side will make joint efforts with the Chinese side to strengthen the exchange of the people from all circles of both countries and incessantly expand the mutually beneficial cooperation between both sides in such fields as resource, infrastructure, agriculture and mineral resources. She also reaffirmed that the Philippine government will unswervingly pursue one-China policy and respect the Chinese government's stand on the Taiwan issue.

After the meeting, the related ministries and departments of the two governments have signed several cooperative agreements and documents, covering such fields as finance, trade, investment, economy, technology, transportations, exchange of the youth and energy resources, revealing a broad future for the mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries. The two heads of state attended the signing ceremonies of above-mentioned documents. Arroyo also presented to Hu Jintao the commemorative stamp issued by the Philippine Department of Posts for celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines.

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