CEBU, Philippines — Since President Duterte came to power in 2016, he has apparently pivoted Philippine foreign policy from longtime defense ally, the US, and openly embraced Asia’s economic superpower, China.
Since then, Chinese tourists coming into the Philippines, particularly in Cebu, have substantially increased.
Cebu, in particular, has seen this year the opening of more direct flights to various Chinese cities, paving way for increased tourism exchange between Cebu and China.
When Duterte visited China in 2016, the latter pledged $24 billion in investment into the Philippines, including loan grants and foreign direct investments.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have since eased at the disputed South China Sea, an issue that roiled ties between the two nations under Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III.
Bilateral relations between Asia's two fastest growing economies have since improved.
For Consul General Jia Li, the newly appointed consul of the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu, the two countries have entered a new era of developing good relations.
"The current development of China-Philippines relations has entered a new historical period after President Xi Jinping’s state visit," Li said during a meeting with the press at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa last week.
President Xi paid a state visit in the country last month, witnessing the signing of important deals seen to further boost cooperation in key economic areas.
"The leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on the upgrading of bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic cooperation and witnessed signing of 29 cooperation documents, including the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative," Li pointed out in his speech.
China’s US$1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative intends to get about 60 economies, including the Philippines, to invest in infrastructure to develop land and maritime routes which comprise the old Silk Road network that once connected Beijing to Central Asia and European economies.
Through this cooperation, Li said, China hopes to "solve the energy shortage problem in the Philippines, improve the infrastructure and traffic conditions in the Philippines and inject new impetus into the economic development of the Philippines."
The three pillars -- political security, economic and trade investment, and people to people cultural exchange programs between the two countries -- have been gradually established, supporting a solid and stable new development pattern of China-Philippines relations.
The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, Li said.
China has also moved to further open up its economy to the world in its bid to sustain its dominance in the global economy.
"After 40 years of development, China has become the world's second largest economy, the largest trading country, the largest foreign exchange reserve country, the largest outbound tourism country, and ranked among the major foreign investment and technological innovation countries," Li said.
"Since the reform and opening up, 700 million people have been successfully lifted out of poverty. The per capita GDP (gross domestic product) has increased from 190 US dollars to 8260 US dollars, contributing more than 30% to the world economic growth," he added.
China, according to him, firmly adheres to the "open policy of mutual benefit and win-win."
China also seeks to make greater contributions to the common prosperity of all countries in the world while realizing its own development, he said.
Moving forward, Li sees the relations between China and the Philippines improving further, with Cebu, having long been a home to a huge Chinese community, benefiting from it especially in tourism.
"I worked in Cebu for one year in 2005, and this beautiful city impressed me a lot," he said. "Since I took office a month ago, I have seen the great development achieved in Cebu, and also the importance attached by the Philippine government, Cebu’s government officials and the Cebuano community to China-Philippines relations."
Li took over as consul general last October, replacing former Consul General Shi Yong.
Prior to being assigned in Cebu, Li used to work in the Chinese embassies in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia.
Li cited the steady rise in the number of tourists coming to the Philippines and in Central Visayas.
The number of Chinese tourists who visited the region in 2017 rose to 429,306 from 244,925 in 2016 and 128,356 in 2015.
The 2017 Chinese tourist count posted a 75.28 percent increase compared to 2016.
Chinese arrivals are seen to increase or have increased further this year.
Currently, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) caters 10 direct flights to different cities in China.
Aside from tourism benefit, Li also cited the trainings and seminars by various Chinese organizations which had benefited Cebuanos and people in Visayas in the past years.
“More of such opportunities are set to come. China values friendship and righteousness, and is willing to return goodwill for sincerity and become a good neighbor and good friend of the Filipino people,” Li said. (FREEMAN)