CHINA has welcomed former Philippine President Fidel Ramos as a special envoy of the Philippine President for talks in Beijing, said Rafael Alunan III, former interior and local government secretary of the Philippines on Friday.
Alunan made the statement at a press conference after accompanying Ramos in having dinner with senior Chinese official Fu Ying in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Ramos also attended the press conference.
Commenting on the meeting between Fidel Ramos and Fu Ying, Alunan said the meeting was “a good start in breaking the ice” in the bilateral relations.
“They met in a friendly atmosphere. They discussed in their private capacity the way forward in the spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood for peace and cooperation between the two countries. Their informal discussions focused on the need to engage in further talks, to build trust and confidence, to reduce tensions, to pave the way for overall cooperation for the benefit of both their peoples and the region,” he said.
Stressing the importance of building trust for the long-term relationship between the two countries, he said the two sides valued the long history of friendship of the two neighboring countries and the prospect of further cooperation for the sake of future generations.
“China has welcomed former president Ramos to come to Beijing as a special envoy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Former President Ramos, as an icebreaker, expressed the Philippine government’s desire to hold formal discussions with the Chinese government on issues of mutual concern and interest at the appropriate time to explore pathways to peace and cooperation,” said Alunan.
The countries improved ties during Ramos’ presidential term from 1992 to 1998.
Ramos began a five-day visit to Hong Kong on Monday in a bid to seek to rekindle bilateral ties jeopardized by an arbitration case initiated by former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III.
Fu, former vice-minister of foreign affairs, served as China’s ambassador to the Philippines from 1998 to 2000. (Courtesy China Central Television)
