‘Hand in Hand for a Stronger and Reinforced China-Philippines Friendship’

(Editor’s Note: Below is the full text of the speech delivered last January 17, 2022 by Chinese Foreign Minister, HE Wang Yi, which we are reprinting due to its relevance).

Good afternoon! It is my great pleasure to join you again at the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations. A year ago, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and I announced together the launch of the Forum in Manila.

I am very glad to see it growing rapidly during the past year and its role in promoting the mutual trust and cooperation between our two peoples. I would like to salute Your Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and people from all sectors in both countries who have worked so hard for China-Philippines’ friendship.

China and the Philippines are neighbors facing each other across the sea and partners though thick and thin. Not long ago, when the Philippines was hit by a super typhoon (Typhoon Odette that made landfall on December 16, 2021—Editor), President Xi Jinping promptly expressed his sympathies and support, and the Chinese government was among the first to provide emergency assistance.

The Philippine people are strong and resilient. We believe that under the leadership of President Duterte and the Philippine government, people in the affected areas will rebuild their home at an early date. To support their reconstruction, I would like to announce that the Chinese government has decided to provide another 100 million RMB yuan (more than P800 million– Editor) of grant to the Philippines.

Friends, China’s friendly interaction with the Philippines dated back to over a millennium ago. China brings to the Philippines not colonization or war, but cooperation and friendship. The story about the King of Sulu’s visit to China was a historical epitome of our friendship.

While in office, President Arroyo made many solid efforts to enhance China-Philippines’ friendship. After taking office, President Duterte made a strategic decision to improve relations with China, and rainbows appeared in China-Philippines relations after the rainstorms.

Facts have proved that the decision fully conforms with the fundamental interest of the Philippines and its people, the common interests of China and the Philippines, and the trend toward peace and development in the region.

Friends, China’s friendly interaction with the Philippines dated back to over a millennium ago. China brings to the Philippines not colonization or war, but cooperation and friendship.

I am confident that people with insight from our two countries will keep to the right direction, and write more splendid chapters of China-Philippines’ friendship.

Looking ahead, China will continue to pursue a policy to foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, and stay committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy. We will promote greater solidarity and cooperation with the Philippines.

China will join hands with Philippines to prevail over the pandemic. China has provided the Philippines with over 57 million doses of COVID vaccines. We will continue to help meet the Philippines’ need for vaccines, and work with you on developing effective medicines and building up public health capacity to eventually defeat the virus.

China will join hands with the Philippines to speed up development and rejuvenation. The Belt and Road Initiative and the “Build, Build, Build” strategy are now seamlessly coordinated. Irrigation, dam and telecommunications projects are moving ahead at a faster pace, and many follow up cooperation programs such as railways and bridges are in the pipeline.

China has also supported the Philippines in important undertakings such as the building of drug rehabilitation centers, post-conflict reconstruction in Marawi, and bridge projects in Manila.

As the largest trading partner and export market of the Philippines, China will keep its doors open to more Philippines agriculture products and make more investment in the country, with a view to contributing to your efforts in accelerating industrialization and modernization and capacity-building for self-generated development.

China will join hands with the Philippines to properly handle the South China Sea issue. We each have a respective claims and positions. Before an agreement can be reached, it is important that we put the issue in a proper place and prevent it from affecting or even taking hostage the overall bilateral relationship.

China will absolutely not use its strength to bully smaller countries, and we never believe in a winner-takes-all approach. We hope to work with the Philippines to find ways to properly manage and resolve the issue (SCS/WPS) in the spirit of goodwill and pragmatism.

Stressing only one side’s claims and imposing one’s own will on the other is not a proper way for neighbors to treat each other, and it also goes against the Oriental philosophy of how people should get along with each other.

China will absolutely not use its strength to bully smaller countries, and we never believe in a winner-takes-all approach. We hope to work with the Philippines to find ways to properly manage and resolve the issue in the spirit of goodwill and pragmatism.

We need to come up with the resolve as soon as possible to advance joint development without prejudice to either side’s rights and claims, so that we can turn the South China Sea issue from a challenge into an opportunity and a positive factor conducive to the development of the Philippines and the friendship between our two peoples.

China will join hands with the Philippines to maintain peace and stability in the region. East Asia, the shared home for China and the Philippines, is the region with the greatest development potential in the world. This has not come by easily, and should be doubly cherished.

However, some forces outside the region are trying to frustrate this good momentum with repeated provocations. As two important members of the region, China and the Philippines should stay committed to an independent foreign policy, uphold the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture, deepen the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, and contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region.

Friends, the year 2022 is important for both China and the Philippines. China will soon enter the “Winter Olympics Time”, and the Communist Party of China will hold its 20th National Congress later in the year. The Philippines also has important domestic political agenda this year (the May 9, 2022 elections—Editor).

Standing at a new historical starting point, let us always bear in mind the wellbeing of our two peoples, commit to steering our friendly relations in the right direction, follow the course charted by our top leaders, remove disturbances, deepen cooperation, and jointly usher in an even better future for China-Philippines’ relations.

Thank you.