Welcome to China, Mr. President

MANILA, Philippines -  The following is an open letter dated Aug. 29, 2011 from Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao to President Aquino ahead of his scheduled state visit to China.

Dear Mr. President,

On Tuesday evening, Your Excellency would be on board, heading for Beijing on your first-ever trip to China mainland. It is also going to be your first-ever state visit to the most populous country in the world. This visit has been long expected by our two countries and peoples, and it should certainly be another milestone in China-Philippines relations.

Well known as it has been for ages, our two countries and cultures are intertwined by blood and history. In December last year when I was visiting Tagbilaran, Capital of Bohol, I was taken to the site of the famous Blood Compact between Datu Sikatuna of Bohol and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi of Spain. At the welcoming dinner that day, a Boholano friend jokingly suggested in his speech that Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and I are such wonderful brothers that we should take a blood compact. Responding to his kindness, I said, “I don’t really believe it is at all necessary for us to do this because the blood of the Chinese and Philippine people have been mixed for centuries, but I would not hesitate to do so if the Governor says yes.” As Your Excellency put it in your interview with the Chinese media several days ago, “The strength of the relationship is always inherent within the countries that are very close neighbors.”

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries 36 years ago, we embarked on a journey to a deepened amity and enriched cooperation through the venues of diplomacy, trade, investment and people-to-people interactions. We are now more than proud to recognize the fact that China-Philippines strategic and cooperative relationship is dynamic and promising, and we want to make this visit an even stronger one. Your visit would make this message heard in a convincing way to our two peoples.

President Hu Jintao and his colleagues are looking forward to meeting Your Excellency, a distinguished guest from a great neighbor, and the Chinese people would be excited to give Your Excellency a big welcome. You will have warm and candid discussions with the Chinese leadership on all issues of common interests, trying to explore more ways for sustained and strengthened cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, media, culture and tourism. Prospects are broad, and potentials are immense.

Really special is the arrangement that Your Excellency will be present at three economic and trade forums all the way through your trip in China, respectively in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen. This is really unprecedented for a state visit to my country. May I show my appreciation to Your Excellency for your determination and commitment in opening up business vista for the Philippines, and offer my congratulations to both the Chinese and Philippine business circle on having these opportunities to tap business potentials. I’ve said before that while the Philippine economy is taking off, China is ready to add strength to its wings. I hope that your visit would be another magic feather making the wings more powerful.

As the last leg of your visit, Mr. President, you will follow your mother’s footsteps imprinted 23 years ago, tracing your Chinese roots and meeting with your town fellows in Hongjian Village near Xiamen. The village was where Her Excellency stroke a chord with the villagers by saying, “I am not only the President of the Philippines, but also the daughter of Hongjian.” You will prove to be another firm champion and great builder of China-Philippine friendship.

Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes. I am convinced that the visit to China by Your Excellency would mark a new beginning of refreshed endeavor to bring China-Philippines relations to a new high.

I am looking forward to greeting Your Excellency on the tarmac!

From Beijing, Maligayang Paglakbay!

 Liu Jianchao

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines