BOOSTING CHINA-PHILIPPINES RELATIONS

A senior Chinese legislator hailed the development of relations between China and the Philippines under the guidance of the two countries’ leaders.

Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China,paid a four-day visit to the Philippines from Sept. 8 to 11.

During his visit, Ji met Philippine House of Representatives Speaker and former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Deputy Speaker Arthur Yap, and held talks with President of the Senate Vicente Sotto III.

Ji Bingxuan (center), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China,meets with Gloria Arroyo (right), Philippine Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Arthur Yap, Philippine Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, in Manila on September 10.

He said China’s legislators are willing to work with their counterparts in the Philippines to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries and strengthen friendly exchange and cooperation between the two sides to provide legal and policy guarantee and create a sound environment for the development of a long-term,steady relationship.

The Philippine leaders said that the Philippines attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to connect the country’s "Build, Build,Build" program with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and deepen legislature communication and pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields to promote bilateral relations.