Belt and Road, a much welcome development in Philippines

By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

**MANILA,

Dec. 27–** President of Philippine Senate Aquilino Martin de la Llana Pimentel III said “geography is destiny” when asked about the existing relations between neighbors China and the Philippines.

He said both country’s leaders should focus on the quality of existing relations “concentrating on what unites us rather than what divides us.”

In an interview, the 53-year old president of the 23-member Senate of the Philippines, Mr. Pimentel said both China and the Philippines have been good neighbors sharing rich historical and cultural heritage.

As far as the Belt and Road Initiative, Senate President Pimentel said it would further enhance cooperation and provide life for the vision of a community with shared destiny.

He added the Philippines is fortunate to be part of the Maritime Silk Road because he considers this as an “avenue to share in China’s progress.”

He sounded upbeat with China’s thrusts to share its progress with its immediate neighbors which includes the Philippines.

“The relationship between the Communist Party of China and the PDP-Laban has been strong along with the people-to-people engagements,” he explained as he intimated hosting a delegation from China early next year.

He added he would like to know how China improved the lives of hundreds of millions of its people over the past decades.

He described this as “the Miracle of China” and should be emulated and replicated in many other societies.

Asked about the recently-conducted 19th National Congress of the communist party of China which ended in October, Senate President Pimentel said he was very impressed with President Xi Jinping’s clear direction for the government in the coming decades.

“I am very happy for China because its leader provided a clear vision of where the country’s going,” he added.

Asked what he wants to learn from the CPC, Mr. Pimentel said he wants to know how the leadership maintains party discipline and keep its determined campaign against corruption.

He explained he welcomes the increase in China’s role in international affairs because of its important contribution to the global economy.

Asked of his expectations for Philippines-China relations, Senate President Pimentel said he looks forward to more economic, socio-cultural and political engagements as well as the realization of China’s pledges in terms of investments, grants and assistance of the Philippine government’s “Build, Build, Build” program launched by President Rodrigo Duterte upon his assumption to the country’s leadership midyear last year.

Philippines – China relations was almost at a standstill during the previous administration.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)