New page of history for China, Philippines – Rody

BEIJING – A “new page of history” has begun for China, the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Duterte declared as he participates in China’s One Belt, One Road Forum here that focuses on Beijing’s plan to  improve connectivity and cooperation with Asia, Africa and Europe.

In a recent interview with China Central Television, Duterte said the “new chapter” involves economic development and if China were to help the Philippines and ASEAN, it could only do so “if we come up with a common economic program for everybody.”

“If there’s investment, we can have more businesses, make the economy grow and China would likewise benefit from it,” Duterte said.

“Healthy and robust economic exchanges are key to achieving the goal. It is our hope that many initiatives, including OBOR (One Belt, One Road), can be part of these wider exchanges,” he said.

Since he assumed office last year, Duterte has been vocal about his preference for China and Russia rather than the United States, and has put the territorial and maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing on the backburner.

This was even after the Philippines’ victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration where Manila’s maritime entitlements were reinforced over Beijing’s sweeping claims over the whole of the South China Sea.

Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious project, the One Belt, One Road initiative is seen as a part of China’s strategy for economic diplomacy as it puts emphasis on enhancing land as well as maritime routes with other countries.

Duterte said the forum to be held today and tomorrow would serve as a platform to learn about economic development and exchange views with Beijing on several issues.

“I understand the Belt and Road initiative is primarily an economic undertaking that will build these connections among the countries, and result in mutual benefit that includes increased trade and market access,” he said in an interview with members of the Chinese media ahead of his arrival here.

Duterte said he would attend the forum not only representing the Philippines but also ASEAN as the Philippines is currently the chair of the organization.

“The Philippines is now the chair of the ASEAN and whether I like it or not, I would bring some messages from the ASEAN community. Second is I also represent my country there, upon the invitation of President Xi Jinping. Then I would work on a more robust bilateral connection with China, make it, fortify it with understanding the intricacies of our government including how the One Belt, One Road would operate,” he said.

Duterte said he wants to learn more about the economies of other nations and how they operate, to boost the Philippines’ connectivity.

“(It’s important that) I listen particularly, listen and learn more on how I can go about bringing in the ASEAN community, with it I hope that the state leaders would also be there. And at the same time, I can have a conference with them on how best we can address the projections of what the One Belt, One Road would operate in our community, in my case, in the Philippines,” Duterte said.

According to him, China’s Belt and Road initiative fits in with the Philippines’ 2017 to 2022 development plan, especially on infrastructure development.

Duterte also said that the Philippines hopes to establish partnerships with other participating countries and promote the connectivity of capital, cargo and people to further upgrade trade cooperation.

The President also seeks to reach a deal with China on introducing high-speed rail to boost travel speeds in the Philippines.

He also expressed hope that the leaders attending the forum would have productive dialogues “that will enlighten us on the gaps that need to be addressed.”

“We also would want to learn from the development experiences of other participant countries, particularly with the opportunities offered by the OBOR to enhance economic growth and address global economic challenges,” he said. 

New world order

Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana said the President would take advantage of the forum to further cement bilateral ties with China within the “new world order.” 

Aside from Xi, the event also places Duterte on the international stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It marks the transition and the emergence of a new world order in which there will be more multiple power centers,” Sta. Romana said in an interview with Manila-based Filipino reporters, noting the “transition from a unipolar world that is culminated by the UN” or the United Nations.

He said “Asia, particularly China, is emerging at the center of gravity, particularly in the field of economics and trade.”

He said Duterte would be attending the summit to promote Philippine economic and trade interests. 

“It’s an international forum where you will see President Duterte, President Xi Jinping and Putin, and the…emergence of the new world order that is represented by the Belt and Road initiative,” Sta. Romana said.

Sta. Romana explained Duterte’s independent foreign policy brought the country closer to Beijing and other powers, and not just a “single” superpower, apparently referring to the US.

He said there is a shift from the time “when we rely on foreign power that is thousands of miles” away rather than improving relations, “first of all, with our immediate neighbors,” with China being the biggest of them all.

But he said ASEAN centrality would also be a key basis of the country’s foreign policy.

ASEAN has been working to become a single market through economic integration but challenges remain.

For one, Duterte cited during the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Cambodia on Thursday that development among ASEAN member-countries is skewed.

Duterte was set to arrive here last night from Hong Kong, a Chinese territory where he had a working visit.

Sta. Romana said the forum would be an opportunity for the country to interlink with China, ASEAN and the rest of the world to discuss matters of common interest.

“(It will) develop the areas of convergence between the ASEAN masterplan (on) connectivity and the Belt and Road initiative,” he said.

“So, in other words, we proceed from our own national interests under the banner of an independent foreign policy as enunciated by the President and see how we can promote further our economic development interest,” Sta. Romana said.

There are 29 heads of state attending the forum and a thousand delegates coming from about 60 countries, including the US that sent a delegation from the National Security Council.

For the Philippines and countries participating here, Sta. Romana explained it represents the broadening of market opportunities in terms of exports, trade, investment and infrastructure projects.

At the same time, the ambassador said the President could better pursue the interests of the ASEAN in terms of interconnectivity.

“So you know, the President opened the direct maritime link between Davao and Indonesia. And the plan is, from the point of view of ASEAN connectivity (which) is to further connect all the islands (of) countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and you connect that all the way to Singapore,” the ambassador said.

“You have the ASEAN vision of (Pan-Asia Railway), (a) highway which converges with the Belt and Road initiative and the Chinese plan to build a railway link connecting Singapore all the way to…Southwest China, and this will be connected further on to link to Central Asia and on to Europe,” Sta. Romana added.