(Eagle News) – The rise of China as a new world power is good for developing countries as this would “create a world where the lesser have a chance,” according to Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., after his bilateral meeting with his counterpart Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in China.
In his statement at a joint press briefing with the Chinese foreign minister on Wednesday, March 20, Locsin said he and Wang had discussed ways to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations between Philippines and China.
He stressed that the Philippines should have nothing to fear and much to hope for with China’s rise.
“I speak for my country which wants to see much to hope for, and nothing to fear from the rise of a new power. And along with it a new world where the ambition of one to rise higher and get richer is best advanced by helping others to rise and prosper in tandem with her,” Locsin said after the bilateral meeting held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China.
“This was why I wrote that preamble to our Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative that no other country in history but the new China has aspired to rise higher, not by stepping on others, but by helping them rise alongside her. Each one’s genius and energy helping others in ways unique to itself yet advantageous to all,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs chief also said that China’s growth as a foreign power gave hope to “emerging economies.”
He noted that in the past, developing countries where “at the mercy of Western markets.”
“To put it in concrete terms, without the new China, there will be no prospect whatsoever for the developing world to grow into emerging economies. We would still be, as throughout the second half of the last century we were, at the mercy of Western markets which, on a whim, can turn us away—as they did throughout the post- and neo-colonial period,” Locsin said.
“The emergence of a new China is creating a world where the lesser have a chance. And more than a chance: cooperation for mutual benefit instead of words.”
Locsin’s official visit to China, from March 18 to 21, was at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang, in reciprocation of former’s hosting of the latter’s visit to the Philippines in October 2018, the DFA said.
“Foremost on the meeting agenda of the two foreign ministers was to lay the groundwork for the successful participation of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be hosted by China in April,” a DFA statement said.
“The two Foreign Ministers then had a friendly, candid and in-depth discussion on issues that run the gamut of Philippines-China relations, including economic cooperation, political-security relations, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as a cordial exchange of views on the Philippines’ role as Country Coordinator of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, and on regional and international issues,” it said.
After their bilateral meeting, Locsin and Wang held a joint press conference during which “both Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustaining the positive momentum of relations and deepening Philippines-China relations on the basis of mutual respect and sincerity, and securing a peaceful and prosperous future for their respective peoples,” the DFA said,
The Chinese foreign minister also reiterated China’s staunch support for President Duterte’s flagship “Build, Build, Build” program.
Wang said that China was ready to work with the Philippines to further promote cooperation in all areas and to continue to explore synergies and complementarities between the Build Build Build program and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Joining Secretary Locsin at the bilateral meeting were Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Meynardo L.B. Montealegre, Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Treaties Jose Eduardo E. Malaya III, Executive Director for Asian and Pacific Affairs Josel F. Ignacio, Executive Director for Legal Affairs and Treaties Igor G. Bailen, North Asia Division Director Rhenita B. Rodriguez, Philippine Embassy in Beijing Deputy Chief of Mission Dinno Oblena, Embassy Third Secretary and Vice Consul Johnelle John Domingo, and Principal Assistant Emilio O. Lopue Jr.
Before his meeting with Wang, Locsin also paid a courtesy call on Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and the Philippine Economic Managers led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.
