BEIJING (via PLDT) – Chinese President Hu Jintao has accepted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s invitation for him to visit the Philippines next year.

The President confirmed the Chinese leader’s acceptance of her invitation in her brief remarks during her meeting with the Filipino community in China held at the Kerry Center Hotel here Thursday tonight.

Secretary Silvestre Afable, Malacaņang Communications Director, said no date has yet been set for Hu’s visit but this could be timed with the observance of the 30^th anniversary of RP-China relations.

Diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines were officially established on June 19, 1975.

Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Willy Gaa told the President in his welcome remarks that Filipinos from the nearby provinces of China came to Beijing purposely to meet her. He said 80 percent of Filipinos here who registered for the May 10 elections voted for the President.

The President said China obviously loves the Philippines because Filipinos in China are lovable.

She said she expects more Chinese direct investments in the Philippines in the next few years as result of the various agreements signed during her state visit that ends Friday.

The President said the agreements signed will not only boost Philippine-China relations but will also help enhance the success of her 10-point legacy agenda spelled out in her inaugural address last June 30.

BEIJING (via PLDT) – Philippine-China relations have hit a new high with the signing here of five government agreements between China and the Philippines and several other accords between corporations from the two countries.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Hu Jintao witnessed the signing by their respective officials of five landmark agreements on visa waiver for their officials and diplomatic personnel, a joint seismic survey in the South China Sea, development of fishery facilities in Palawan, energy development, and the initial phase of the Northrail project linking Metro Manila and the Clark Specia Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Malacaņang Communications Director Silvestre Afable said the enhanced RP-China cooperation in various fields is expected intensify in the next few years.

On trade volume, Afable said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Hu have agreed to increase their total trade to $20 billion in the next five years.

Significant gains in cooperation are also expected in agriculture, tourism and even defense, Afable said.

On defense and security, Afable said initial discussions have already been made on the possibility of military exchange visits, training and intelligence information exchange, particularly in relation to addressing the drug problem.

China and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975.

BEIJING (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends today her three-day fruitful state visit to China that further strengthened bilateral ties between China and the Philippines.

The President will return to Manila aboard a special Philippine Airlines flight and is expected to arrive midnight tonight.

Before her departure from Beijing, she will hold bilateral talks with other foreign leaders attending the 3^rd International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) here.

The President is set to meet with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the State Guest House here early this afternoon.

Officials and executives of private foreign corporations who will be signing joint venture agreements with their Filipino counterparts will later call on her at the Kerry Centre Hotel here.

BEIJING – Chinese Central Military Commission chairman Jiang Zemin Thursday called for more efforts to further develop the bilateral relations between China and the Philippines, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Jiang also hailed the development of friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries since they established relations almost 30 years ago during a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Philippines and China have enjoyed good coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs with the continued strengthening of political thrust and deepening of the cooperation, Jiang said.

The two countries have had fruitful cooperation in sustaining stability and promoting joint development in the South China Sea, Jiang added.

President Macapagal-Arroyo said China is an important neighbor to the Philippines and has provided friendly support and assistance to her country’s economic and social development.

On the Taiwan issue, President Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated the Philippines’ continued adherence to the one-China policy and her government fully understands and supports the stance of the Chinese government and people over the matter.

Jiang said he highly appreciates the Philippine government’s adherence to the one-China policy and its attention on developing relations with China.

President Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in China Wednesday for a three-day state visit.

BEIJING (Via PLDT)—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded Asian political leaders attending the Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP3) here for their efforts in helping deepen cooperation and enhancing the economic welfare of their peoples.

Hosted by the Communist Party of China (CPC), ICAPP’s three-day conference here is its third in a row following its Bangkok edition last year and its Manila debut in 2002.

ICAPP was founded in 2002 by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., who remains its chairman, and a few other Asian parliamentarians.

Three hundred fifty delegates from more than 80 political parties in 35 countries in Asia are attending the conference currently underway at the Beijing Hotel here. Their number is matched only by some 350 foreign media representatives covering the event.

The President and Speaker de Venecia, president of Lakas-CMD, head the Filipino contingent to the conference. The group also includes Senators Edgardo Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Joker Arroyo of the People’s Democratic Coalition and Ralph Recto of the Liberal Party.

The President spoke next to China Vice President Zeng Qinghong, honorary chairman of the conference organizing committee, who delivered the welcome and keynote address. She was followed by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Only the President spoke on behalf of the Philippines in the event opening rites in accordance with the principle of one speaker per country only, even as de Venecia was seated at the presidential table as ICAPP chairman.

Mrs. Arroyo urged the other Asian political leaders to give way and stress to party programs and consultations with the people, and bring governance and diplomacy into the realm of "party to party, state to state and people to people."

The President told her audience of the Philippine political experience where former military rightists and communists rebels are now actively participating in her country’s mainstream political exercise.

She was obviously referring to former Army Col. Gregorio Honasan who just completed his Senate term last June, and leftist Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, among others.

"Politics indeed is the art of the possible," she noted.

The Chief Executive lauded ICAPP which, she pointed out, "neither acknowledges ideological lines nor seek alignments" and instead respects independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal politics.

Adverting to the conference’s development theme, the President said "prosperity and peace, and mutual respect of each other’s beliefs, is what development is all about."

China, she said, is now a showcase of the enlightened approach to market economy and the "emerging economic center of Asia and the world" and noted its conscious role as good and friendly neighbor to adjacent countries.

BEIJING (via PLDT) - China and the Philippines today signed a media cooperation agreement that seeks to further enhance friendly cooperation between information agencies and media organizations of the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Malacanang Communications Group Director Silvestre Afable on behalf of the Philippine government and by Zhao Qi Zhing of the Chinese State Council Information Office.

Under the accord, both countries agreed to alternately send a media delegation of not more than six members to each other's country.

The media delegation's itinerary for about seven days will be arranged by the host government.

The agreement provides that accommodations of visiting delegation will be shouldered by the host country but would not include international air fare and personal expenses.

The accord also provides that the two sides will endeavor to establish a mechanism for consultations as basis for future cooperation in media.

Both sides likewise agreed to promote exchanges between their respective media organizations and encourage wider coverage of political, economic, cultural and related events in the two countries.

The accord also said both parties will encourage the conduct of seminars and workshops with the participation of mainstream media practitioners, and to exchange periodicals, books, electronic video and audio products and other publications.

BEIJING—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement between a local subsidiary and two Chinese companies for the setting up of an iron ore processing plant in Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

The joint venture, that calls for the infusion of $30 million into the local economy, was one of the five private sector agreements signed during the last day of the President’s three-day state visit to China.

The signing of the agreements, which was also witnessed by Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima, was held at the Kerry Centre Hotel here.

The joint venture is between the Konka-Fulim Mining & Development Corporation and Echeng Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Zhaoheng Industrial Co., Ltd., two of China’s leading corporations.

Howard A. Ko, president of Konka-Fulim Mining, who signed the agreement for his firm, said that the investment is expected to generate some 2,000 new jobs. Officials of the two Chinese companies signed on behalf of their companies.

Operations of the new iron ore facility are slated to start during the first quarter of next year, Ko said.

Konka Fulim Mining, a subsidiary of Konka Group, has interests in motorcycle, electronics, food business, real estate, and other business activities.

On Wednesday, the President also witnessed the signing of a three-year joint pre-exploration study on the potentials of petroleum resources in some parts of the South China Sea where the Philippines and China have overlapping territorial claims.

The agreement, which is a confidence-building measure, calls for a joint marine seismic undertaking of the area by the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC). Four other government-to-government agreements were also signed Wednesday.

The other business agreements signed today were for the following:

BEIJING (via PLDT)—Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today personally donated US$40,000 for the flood victims of Central Luzon.

The Thai leader personally handed the check for the amount to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during their bilateral talks at State Guesthouse here.

The President thanked the Thai leader for his concern and donation for the victims of the flood that submerged wide portions of Central Luzon earlier this week.

Thaksin is also in this Chinese capital for the on-going three-day 3^rd International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

President Arroyo leaves shortly this afternoon at the conclusion of her highly fruitful three-day state visit that started Wednesday, September 1.

Both the President and Thaksin spoke before the formal opening plenary of the ICAPP meet hosted by the Communist Party of China (CPC). ICAPP was founded in 2002 by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. who remains its chairman.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s highly fruitful three-day state visit to the People’s Republic of China has paved the way for the forging of several government-to- government agreements and private contracts between Filipino and Chinese business groups worth about $1 billion.

President Arroyo and Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima witnessed the signing of the commercial documents on Tuesday in Guangzhou City, her first stopover, and in Beijing this afternoon.

Foremost of these agreements was the commitment of the Chinese government for a $400 million loan to finance the Phase 1 of the North Rail Project that would eventually connect Bulacan to the Clark Special Economic Zone.

Kemwerke Inc. concluded a $5.16-million contract to supply 4,800 metric tons (MTs) per annum of coconut-based Alkyd resin to China’s Akzo Nobel Coatings, and another contract involving the yearly supply of 2,000 MTs of the same product worth P2.15 million to New Trump Enterprises, Ltd.

Philippine Environmentech Products Corp. also capped a $0.70 million contract to supply 3,600 MTs a year of coconut fiber to Guangzhou Tianhe Yi Xin Fiber Products, while Coco Technologies Corp. inked another $1-million sales accord with Guangzhou Rivers Enterprises Co. Ltd.

After the signing rites, executives of Guangdong Kelon Electrical Holdings Co. Ltd., headed by Liu Cong Meng, called on Secretary Purisima who invited China’s second largest manufacturer of refrigeration products to locate to the Philippines.

The 105-strong Philippine business contingent that accompanied President Macapagal-Arroyo in the China visit was briefed on Guangdong’s investment promotion program.

Sonny Doo, president of Hong Kong Business Association of Guangdong, also made a presentation on Business Opportunities in the Greater Pearl River Delta.

Secretary General Long Yongtu of Bo’ao Forum for Asia also briefed the Filipino businessmen on the impact of his group on Asian businesses. Long elaborated on the relevance of the Bo’ao Forum to the development and strengthening of regional cooperation in trade.

From Guangzhou, the Philippine delegation flew to the Chinese capital of Beijing where President Macapagal-Arroyo, together with six members of her Cabinet and five businessmen, met with local business leaders, including executives of the China Nuctech Co., Beijing Tourism Group, Beijing Tae Wei Group, China National Machinery and Equipment Group and Fuhua International Industrial Group.

The Chinese business executives expressed their confidence on the leadership and economic policies of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Chinese investors already doing business in the Philippines vowed to expand their operations here, while others expressed their eagerness to partake of the investment opportunities in the country.

Earlier today, officials of TCL Corp. and Hebei Jingniu (Crystal Ball Group) called on President Macapagal-Arroyo in Beijing. TCL said it is seriously considering expanding its operations in Asia with the Philippines as its base for South East Asia because of the country’s strategic location in the region.

For its part, Jingniu said it eyes a Chinese Industrial Park at the Bataan Technology Park with a $312-million integrated gas manufacturing plant as the centerpiece.

Three joint venture agreements were also forged and presented to the visiting Philippine leader.

The accords covered a credit facility worth $26 million from Hebei Medical University/Bio Medical Engineering Center for the Philippine International Trading Corp. for the purchase of medicines; an investment, equipment and supply contract worth $100 million on wireless hi-speed data services between Multi-media Telephony Inc. and Huawai Technologies Co. Ltd.; a $30-million joint venture on iron ore processing in Camarines Norte between Philippines-based Konka Fulim Mining and Development Corp. and China’s Shenzhen Zhaoheng Industrial Co. Ltd.; and purchase of CNG-powered buses from China worth $5 million.

Upon the invitation of His Excellency Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines paid a state visit to China from 1 to 3 September 2004.

The visit was aimed at promoting the existing close traditional friendship and good neighborly relationship between the two countries, enhancing mutual understanding and trust and facilitating economic cooperation and development.

During the visit, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held talks with President Hu Jintao. She also met His Excellency Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and His Excellency Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council.

Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on bilateral ties, as well as international and regional issues of common interest in a sincere and friendly atmosphere. They noted with satisfaction the significant progress in the bilateral relationship and the steady expansion and deepening of cooperation in all fields. They reaffirmed their commitment to work on the comprehensive development of their ties. They agreed to further promote the healthy and steady development of the relationship, guided by the principles enshrined in the Joint Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the 21^st Century signed by the two Governments in 2000.

The two sides agreed to prepare for the celebrations of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations in 2005.

The two sides agreed to strengthen ties and to sustain high-level contacts exchanges at all levels in all fields of government, business, academic communities, media and non-government organizations of the two countries.

They also agreed to further strengthen various consultation and cooperation mechanisms, including the foreign ministry consultations, consular consultations, the Joint Trade Committee, the Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Joint Committee on Science and Technology.

Both sides acknowledged he strong complementarity between the two economies. Noting the remarkable progress achieved in bilateral trade in the recent years, they agreed to promote the further expansion of bilateral trade, the improvement of the trade structure and the development of potentials in trade and services.

Both sides expect the Philippines’ participation in the Early Harvest Program of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area on 1 January 2005. The Philippines expressed appreciation for China’s flexibility.

The Philippines recognized China’s market economy status.

In the interest of expanding mutual investment, they agreed to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in each other’s countries, particularly in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, resources, information and communications technology, among others. The Philippine side expressed appreciation for China’s support for the agricultural development program and the Northrail project of the Philippine government.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation in tourism and encourage their nationals to visit each other’s countries.

The two sides indicated their readiness to enhance people-to-people exchanges with further cooperation in educational, cultural and other fields.

Both sides believed that expanded exchanges and dialogue in the military and security fields will strengthen the level of mutual political trust between the two countries. They agreed to study the possible establishment of the annual defense security consultation mechanism between their defense departments. They also agreed to strengthen ways and means to implement cooperation agreements concerning judicial assistance, drug control and transnational crimes.

The Philippines reaffirmed its adherence to the one-China policy and understands efforts by the Chinese government to maintain national unity.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the peace and stability in the South China Sea and their readiness to continue discussions to study cooperative activities like joint development pending the comprehensive and final settlement of territorial disputes and overlapping maritime claims in the area. They agreed to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Convention on the Law of the Sea. They agreed that the early and vigorous implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea will pave the way for the transformation of the South China Sea into an area of cooperation.

The two sides agreed to continue to promote cooperation between ASEAN and China, pursue the realization of the ASEAN-China free trade area and strengthen the ASEAN plus 3 process.

They recognized that the Philippines and China should continue to work with other developing countries for fairness and balance in the global free trade regime.

They shared the view that maintaining peace and stability in the region was of critical importance. The Philippines acknowledged Chinas efforts to bring about denuclearization and development in the Korean peninsula.

President Arroyo expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and friendship extended to her and her delegation during her visit to China.