AQUINO OFF TO CHINA: WILL FOCUS ON TRADE COOPERATION
[PHOTO - SALUTE TO THE HEROES: President Benigno S. Aquino III gives a salute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a shrine dedicated to all the nameless, faceless, and fameless Filipinos who fought and died in battle for the country, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City in celebration of National Heroes' Day, Aug. 29, 2011. Tuesday, Aquino flies to China for an official state visit. (LJ Pasion)]
BEIJING, CHINA, AUGUST 30, 2011 (BULLETIN) By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO – A hectic schedule awaits President Benigno S. Aquino III upon his arrival here Tuesday on the first leg of his five-day state visit to the People's Republic of China (PROC) upon the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao to further strengthen the over three decades of "friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the Philippines and China."
Also included in the Aquino's visit, from August 30 to September 3, are the cities of Shanghai and Xiamen.
The Chief Executive's visit, his first, will also focus on trade cooperation. It comes amid a scathing territorial dispute involving certain part of the West Philippine Sea. Also in the backdrop is the somewhat rekindled pain of the Manila bus hostage tragedy last year which led to the death of eight Hong Kong tourists.
Accompanied by some members of his Cabinet and a large Philippine business delegation – about 270 – the President is expected to arrive at the Beijing Capital Airport on board a Philippine Airlines Special Commercial Flight PR001 from Manila.
He will be welcomed by Chinese embassy officials led by Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao, Deputy Director-General of Protocol Department Xie Bohua of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the Philippine embassy in Beijing headed by Charge d'Affaires ad interim Alex Chua, Minister and Consul General Maria Teresa Almojuela and First Secretary and Consul Noel Novicio.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the President's visit hopes to "promote a people-centered partnership that will push for more trade, investments, media, culture, education, and tourism exchange between the two countries."
From the airport, Aquino and his delegation will motor to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse where he will stay for the duration of his visit here.
The President will kick off activities Wednesday by meeting separately with Chinese businessmen at the China World Hotel. These are the officials of the Energy World, the State Grid of China Corporation/National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, China Trend/China Investment Corporation/China Petroleum and DPWH-led Chinese Contractors. He will also have a brief meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan.
This will be followed by his attendance at the Philippines-China Economic and Trade Forum where he will deliver his keynote speech.
At the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the President will be interviewed by Yang Rui and Yang Lan of the CCTV Dialogue.
The President will be officially welcomed at the Great Hall of the People here by Chinese President Hu Jintao, in fitting ceremonies accorded a visiting head of state.
Immediately after his first summit meeting with the Chinese leader, the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting.
Presidents Aquino and Hu Jintao are also expected to witness the signing of agreements in the fields of trade, economic and technical cooperation, media, sports, culture, and information among others that will further boost the relationship of the two countries.
In the evening, Aquino will attend a State Banquet at the Great Hall of the People which will be hosted in his honor by the Chinese President.
He will also personally meet with the Filipino community of Beijing to personally check on their condition and to inform them of the positive developments of the Philippines under his administration.
There are some 2,492 Filipinos in Beijing and its neighboring cities and provinces who are working as doctors, engineers, teachers, hotel, and restaurant managers, including musicians among others.
President Aquino will also take time out from his busy schedules here to visit Beijing's two most visited historical sites – the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.
The Chinese government has recommended that President Aquino visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is approximately 80 kilometers northwest from the center of Beijing.
The Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is the best preserved and most popular among all its sections, is more than 1,000 meters (or 3,281 feet above sea level), and commands a strategic position for transportation and defense in ancient times.
The famous Great Wall of China, aside from the Forbidden City, is the most frequented site by both local visitors and tourists all over the world.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China on June 9, 1975, the bilateral partnership between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels in terms of political/security and regional cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which have benefited the two countries and peoples.
Filipinos delighted
The more than 2,000 Filipino overseas workers in Beijing welcome President Aquino's state visit, saying it is an "affirmation of the excellent state of relations between the two countries."
"They are very proud of this visit, as it is a clear and strong indication that despite some issues between the Philippines and their host country, the relationship is on a good track and both governments are highly committed to strengthen this friendship and cooperation," Charge d'Affaires Chua said in an interview.
Chua cited the popularity of President Aquino, especially among the Filipino community in Beijing as evidenced by the positive results of the overseas absentee voting (OAV) during the May, 2010 election.
Chua said Filipinos in Beijing work in various fields – international journalists, global executives, musicians, household service employees, doctors, engineers, teachers, hotel and restaurant managers among others
Honeymoon destination
Meanwhile, Malacañang said China's naming of the Philippines as "Honeymoon Destination of the Year" is proof that the country is among the best destinations in the world, particularly for foreign couples.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte also said that with this latest award, the Philippine government is optimistic that more foreign tourists will come to see the beauty the country has to offer.
The China Travel and Meeting Industry Awards earlier hailed the Philippines as the 2011 Honeymoon Destination of the Year.
The Philippines bested Bali, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand in a voting process that garnered 4.2- million votes by members of the industry during almost two months of the voting period from July to August 2010. (With a report from Madel R. Sabater)
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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