China, the Philippines to expedite work on cooperative projects

Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan (3rd R) meets with Indian Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu (3rd L) on the sidelines of the ASEANEconomic Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in Pasay City, the Philippines, Sept. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, Sept. 9 -- China and the Philippines agreed to speed up the working process of cooperative projects, hoping to make vital progress within this year, a Chinese commercial official said here Saturday.

Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan and Philippine economic officials have discussed their cooperative projects on the sidelines of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Ministers' meeting and related meetings in Manila, according to Wu Zhengping, director general of the department of Asian affairs of the Chinese ministry of commerce.

Both sides had concrete discussions on projects such as airports, railways, and irrigation system included in the Six-Year Development Program for Trade and Economic Cooperation signed by China and the Philippines in March this year, Wu said.

They agreed to expedite the working process and hoped to make significant progress on the projects before the ASEAN summit in November.

The Six-Year Development Program was signed by both countries in March this year, aiming to provide a guideline for trade and economic cooperation between China and the Philippines.