China governor to visit Manila, Cebu next month

Guangxi, China – Guangxi Governor Ma Biao is set to visit Manila and Cebu next month to further explore cooperation between Guangxi and the Philippines, said House Speaker Prospero Nograles who attended the 6th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Ma, who will head a 15-man delegation, will hold talks with key officials of the Philippine government.

Nograles said Vice President Noli de Castro would lead in welcoming Ma in November.

Both Nograles and Ma expressed interest in further strengthening the economic partnership between China and the Philippines.

Ma said China looks forward to forging stronger ties with the Philippines in the fields of trade and economy, education, culture, science and technology.

He added that improved cooperation and partnerships in the areas of agriculture, fishery, and tourism should also be pursued.

Nograles thanked Ma for the warm welcome he and his wife received along with entourage, special envoy to China Harry Angping and his wife Zenaida and congresswoman Milagros Magsaysay.

He said the China-ASEAN Expo would provide Filipino-Chinese businessmen a chance to showcase their products and services.

Nograles cited the need to improve China’s import and export relations with the Philippines considering how the latter’s import and export rate is only half of that between China and Thailand.

“We, the Philippines, look at China as a big brother,” Nograles said, commending China for achieving GDP growth despite the global economic slowdown.

Nograles said the expo gave him an opportunity to meet other leaders and promote political partnerships with China and other participating countries.

“This is not only business but also political. We get a chance to strengthen political party ties,” he said, noting that aside from the trade fair activities, meetings are also held to discuss other issues like security and economy.

He noted that relations between the Philippines and China have comprehensively progressed since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1975.

Nograles said infrastructure and agriculture are relatively new areas of cooperation between the Philippines and China but both countries are excited about furthering these ties.

“For example, with the Northrail Project, which is funded by preferential loans from China, we are building a railroad that will connect Caloocan in Metro Manila to Clark. When it is completed, it will ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and facilitate the transport of people and goods between these two areas,” he said.