Philippines-China in support of Magtulungan para sa Bayan... CHRONICLE lsang turista lang ang kailangan! Vol. 3 No.2 March-April 2002 Publication of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing House Speaker De Venecia leads lawmakers in international forum State Councilor Wang in Beijing, Chongqing visits Manila A high-level delegation from the House of Mr. Wang Zhongyu, State Councilor and Representatives led by Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. concurrently Secretary General of China’s State Council, attended the 3rd General Assembly of the Association of visited the Philippines on 26-29 January 2002. During Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) held on 16-19 April. his visit, Mr. Wang, who has a rank equivalent to a Vice Other members of the Philippine delegation included Premier, held meetings with Mr. Alberto Romulo, Deputy Speaker Antonio Cuenco, Congressman Roque Executive Secretary of H.E. President Gloria Macapagal- Ablan and Deputy Secretary-General of the House of Arroyo, and Ms. Karina Constantino-David, Chairperson Representatives Ricardo Roque. The delegation was of the Philippine Civil Service Commission. accompanied by Ambassador Josue Villa and Second Mr. Wang’s visit was part of a three-nation tour Secretary and Consul Hjayceelyn Quintana of the that includes Myanmar and Cambodia. He was joined Philippine Embassy. by Mr. Zhang Xuechong, China’s Minister of Personnel, and Mr. Wang Xiaochu, Director General, Department Delegates to the AAPP delivered statements on the of International Exchange and Cooperation of China’s House Speaker De Venecia and Chairman Li Peng of three topics under the theme “Peace and Development” Ministry of Personnel. namely: (a) Multi-Polarization and World Peace, (b) the National People’s Congress after their one-on-one Globalization and Developing Countries, and (c) Closer meeting at the fringes of the AAPP General Assembly. International Cooperation and Establishment of a New to Changchun together with officials of the Philippine PGMA meets China Finance chief International Political and Economic Order. National Railways and the Bases Conversion China’s Finance Minister, Mr. Xiang Huaicheng Development Authority (BCDA) to visit a train car paid a call on President Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo Chairman Li Peng of the National People’s production facility. during his official visit to Manila on 24 - 27 March. Congress (NPC) of China opened the conference in President Arroyo welcomed Minister Xiang to the Beijing and continued the sessions in Chongqing in Speaker de Venecia also met with Vice Minister An Philippines, saying that she was “very grateful” for the central China. The AAPP membership of the Philippines Min of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic friendship that the People’s Republic of China accords was formalized during the conference. At the closing Cooperation and Vice Minister Sun Yongfu of the her and her administration. ceremony, Speaker de Venecia announced the decision Ministry of Railways in Beijing on 22 April. These to host the next AAPP assembly in Manila. meetings were in connection with the proposed President Arroyo underscored the policy of the involvement of Chinese firms in the reconstruction and Philippine government to encourage more Chinese to After the conference, Speaker de Venecia proceeded modernization of the Philippines’ railway system. come to the Philippines for tourism and business. In a separate meeting, Finance Secretary Visa requirements for Chinese nationals simplified Camacho and Minister Xiang discussed two-trade and investments as well as China’s wide-ranging interests Philippine foreign service missions in China have than the normal 3-day processing period and pay less in the region. Secretary Camacho also expressed unified and eased visa requirements for Chinese for the visa fees. In case of tour groups, the usual appreciation on behalf of the government for US$ 100- nationals travelling to the Philippines for business or overtime fee will be waived for the release of the visa million credit facility extended by China for agricultural pleasure by reducing visa fees by 20 per cent, shortening within 24 hours. infrastructure projects in the Philippine countryside. the visa processing period and simplifying application procedures. In addition, individual visa applicants are no longer required to submit letters of invitation and CPPCC leader pledges stronger The modified measures were drafted at the guarantee from the Philippines as long as they present agri cooperation meeting held in Beijing last 26-27 January chaired by documentary proof of financial capacity in China. Philippine Ambassador to China Mr. Vice Chairman Song Jian of the China People’s Josue L. Villa. These measures were Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) stressed implemented by the Philippine posts in China’s commitment to support the Philippine’s Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou and agricultural modernization program during his Hongkong beginning 1 February. meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 3 April. The revised guidelines aim to hone Vice Chairman Song conveyed the appreciation the Philippines’ competitiveness as a of China’s President Jiang Zemin for President Arroyo’s travel destination and in line with the commitment to strengthening Philippines-China directive from President Gloria bilateral relations. Macapagal-Arroyo to promote business and tourism exchanges with China. Vice Chairman Song pointed out that the Philippine-China Agriculture Technology Center in the “We hope that more friendly visa Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija - now under policies will encourage the Chinese to construction- will be the hub of technical exchange view the Philippines as a friendly between scientists and experts. He proposed the setting destination for tourism and business”, Ambassador Villa Ambassador Villa (seated, third from left) together with up of manufacturing plants by Chinese firms in the said. Consuls General Isaias Begonia (Guangzhou), Zenaida Angara- country to boost partnership in the field of agricultural Collinson, Corazon Yap-Bahjin(Xiamen), Elizabeth Buensuceso supplies and equipment. (Beijing) in a photo taken after the consultation meeting in Under the revised guidelines, accredited tour group Beijing. Behind them are Consul Noel Fernandez (Beijing), Ms He also vowed to help in expanding bilateral handlers, as well as individual travelers, will submit less Rose Calderon (Xiamen), Vice Consul Lourdes Legaspi cooperation in the areas of information and documentary requirements, may claim the visas earlier (Guangzhou) and Consul Domingo Lucenario (Hongkong). communications technology and enterpreneurship. Philippines-China Chronicle 2 March-April 2002 DIPLOMATIC NOTES Visit Reports Seminar on Confidence Metro Manila mayors Labor undersecretary in ASEM Building in the South China visit Shanghai Meeting Sea held in Manila Labor Undersecretary Manuel G. Imson First Gentleman Atty. Miguel Arroyo and advocated for the protection of the rights of Filipino The Philippines hosted the “Seminar on Bilateral Chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Metro Manila migrant workers at an experts’ meeting held in Confidence Building in the South China Sea,” in Manila Development Authority led 10 mayors of Metro Manila Beijing on 25-26 February. The meeting was held to on 5 March. This activity, which was attended by in an official visit to Shanghai on 12- 15 March. prepare for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) officials and academics from the Philippines and China, Ministerial Conference on Cooperation for the provided a forum for the two sides to exchange views According Chairman Abalos, MMDA organized the Management of Migratory flows between Asia and on the issue of joint development and joint cooperation visit to familiarize the top executive leaders of Metro Europe. Mr. Imson contributed Philippine (JD/JC). Manila on the experiences of Shanghai Municipality experiences and perspectives on the issues of labor on urban planning and administration. He said it also The Philippine delegation was headed by Acting migratory flows, labor exploitation, and human helped to consolidate the support of these leaders in the Assistant Secretary Antonio V. Rodriguez of the Asian trafficking. integrated urban renewal projects in Metro Manila and and Pacific Affairs Office, Department of Foreign Affairs, the 15-year rehabilitation program of the Pasig River. The meeting was attended by expert-level while the Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Liu Jian, officials from 15 European countries and 10 Asian Counselor of the Asian Department, Ministry of Foreign The participating mayors were Mr. Feliciano countries. It was hosted by H.E. Mr. Wang Guangya, Affairs. Belmonte, Jr. (Quezon City), Mr. Joselito Atienza, Jr. Vice Foreign Minister of China. (Manila), Mr. Jaime Fresnedi (Muntinlupa), Mr. Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Manila and Local budget officials from Mindanao Reynaldo Malonzo (Caloocan City), Ms. Maria Lourdes the Philippine Embassy in Beijing participated in the Fernando (Marikina), Mr. Joey Marquez (Parañaque), A 58-member delegation composed mainly of seminar. Mr. Wenceslao Trinidad (Pasay City), Mr. Jose local chief executives and budget officers from The two sides have agreed to exchange Emmanuel Carlos (Valenzuela City), Mr. Rosendo Mindanao headed by Undersecretary Mario L. information/documents concerning their respective Capco (Pateros) and Mr. Sigfrido Tinga (Taguig), as Relampagos of the Department of Budget and cooperation agreements with other countries as well as well as Mr.