China is ready to provide additional assistance if needed to help post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City in southern Philippines.

“China stands ready to continue providing needed support and assistance in light of the needs of the government of the Philippines,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Lu Kang said at a recent regular press conference.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the liberation of the southern Philippine city from the clutches of the extremists following the killing of terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

“The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the people in Marawi and the Mindanao region can enjoy the peaceful and tranquil life again at an early date,” Lu said.

Last June, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua handed to Philippine health and social welfare officials a P15-million (over RMB2 million) check donation for Marawi City’s relief operations and rehabilitation.

The presentation of the check was witnessed by President Duterte, whose foreign policy has led to the revival of Chinese-Philippine relations.

According to the reports, at least P50 billion (USD 1 billion) will be needed to rehabilitate Marawi City ravaged by five months of battle between government forces and the terrorists led by Hapilon and Maute.

Also last June, China donated P370 million (RMB 52 million) worth of about 3,000 rifles and six million pieces of ammunition to help the Philippine military in fighting the terrorists.

“Combating terrorism is the shared responsibility of all nations,” Lu said.

Meanwhile, a total of 47 sets of heavy equipment that China donated for the reconstruction of Marawi City arrived last week in southern Philippines.

The equipment include eight sets of excavators, eight sets of wheel loaders, five sets of compactors, five sets of track-type tractors, five sets of bulldozers, eight sets of dump trucks, eight sets of cement mixers, and one container van.

Seven more equipment are expected to arrive through China’s Emergency Humanitarian Assistance, according to Philippines’ public works Secretary Mark Villar.