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Premier Zhu: China, Philippines Can Join Hands in Three Areas
Premier Zhu: China, Philippines Can Join Hands in Three Areas
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Wednesday in Beijing that the economic and trade cooperation between China and the Philippines can focus on agriculture, infrastructure and information industry.
Zhu made the remarks in his meeting with visiting Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
In the field of agricultural cooperation, Zhu said that China's accumulated experience in agricultural development was adaptable in the Philippines. Citing a successful example, Zhu said that China's quality hybrid rice seeds have begun to be sown across the Philippines after trial planting.
Construction of the China-Philippines agro-technical center, which was proposed by Zhu during his 1999 Philippine visit, has started. The further enhancement of cooperation in the agricultural field can bring economic benefits to the Philippine people, Zhu said.
China can and is willing to help the Philippines build up its infrastructure, thanks to China's technical know-how and competitive edge in project contracting, Zhu said.
China is also capable of assisting the Philippines in the development of its information industry and related businesses, which are an important component of the structural adjustment of the Philippine economy, Zhu said.
In response, Arroyo said she agrees with Zhu's suggestions, noting that the three areas are also high priorities for the Philippine government.
Thanking China for its assistance to the Philippine economic development, she said that the two countries still have plenty of potential to tap.
China will soon enter the World Trade Organization, she said, and the Philippines will seize the opportunity and actively push forward the bilateral cooperation in all fields.
Zhu regarded the economic cooperation between China and the Philippines as an important part of the bilateral relations. Even under the tough trade situation in Asia, Zhu said, the bilateral trade has seen notable growth and the trade deficits of the Philippines have been rectified.
He said that Arroyo's China tour will definitely lift the bilateral ties to a new level.
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