2015 a peaceful year in Asia, says Chinese envoy

MANILA, Philippines - Giving a “diplomatic” interpretation of the Year of the Sheep, China’s top diplomat in the Philippines drew a connection between the animal that represents peace, gentleness and perseverance and the dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and improving bilateral relations between the Philippines and China.

The Year of the Sheep represents peace, gentleness and perseverance, Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said during the 2015 Spring Festival reception Friday at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

On the occasion, Zhao said the year would be stable and peaceful in Asia, particularly in the South China Sea.

“Let us be kind and gentle to each other. Let us be hard-working and persevere in making new progress for the betterment of China-Philippines relations,” Zhao said.

He also led the Chinese New Year reception at the Chinese embassy.

“China and the Philippines are close neighbors, partners and relatives and are bound by a profound and resilient friendship forged through millennium-long amicable exchanges. It is the common aspiration of two countries to deepen friendship and cooperation,” Zhao said.

He added that the meeting between President Aquino and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting last year was brief but friendly and significant, ushering in progress to improve and enhance bilateral relations.

“The Chinese side is willing to work together with the Philippines to move and bring our bilateral relations to a new height. China would continue to support the Philippines to be a successful host of this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting,” Zhao said.

“I wish the Year of Sheep will bring us good luck and happiness, and bring more warmth and vitality to the China-Philippine relations.”

The Philippines reiterated its strong call on China to stop all reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as it threatens the country and other claimant states.

The United States slammed China’s problematic behavior and the “wholesale” reclamation Beijing has undertaken in the South China Sea, saying it is the source of clear anxiety and instability in the region.

Zhao noted that Chinese diplomacy has been fruitful in 2014 and China successfully hosted the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, and the Boao Forum for Asia.

China, he said, has also made steady progress in developing relations with other major countries, entered into a new phase of neighborhood diplomacy, and made  headway in their cooperation with other developing countries.

Notable progress made in conducting economic diplomacy that was cited by the ambassador include the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives as actual implementation of these initiatives will begin this year.

He said the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will become operational by the end of the year and the $40-billion Silk Road Fund would begin to finance infrastructure projects in China’s neighborhood.

The AIIB, an initiative of China announced on separate occasions by President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang in October 2013, is envisioned to be an inter-governmental regional development financial institution which aims to support infrastructure and regional economic development.

However, the US opposed the Asia-focused, multinational infrastructure development bank.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Secretary John Kerry has made it clear to the Chinese government and other partners that the US welcomes the idea of an infrastructure bank for Asia but strongly urges that it meets international standards of governance and transparency.

The US has concerns on the ambiguous nature of the AIIB proposal.