Philippines, China must play on their strengths, says official

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Angeles City-The Philippines and China have a good relationship and their long-standing ties must be maintained, a senior official said on Thursday.

 

"There are some political differences but these come and go, and we are hoping that these issues can be solved to the satisfaction of both countries," Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr. said in an interview with CCTV, China's state television.

 

Ambassador Paynor, who is the Director General of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, noted that these differences should not affect the two countries’ economic cooperation.

 

"There may be differences but let us play on our strengths," he said.

 

While attending the 2014 APEC Leaders' Summit in Beijing, China last November, President Benigno S. Aquino III said he hopes his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC Leaders' Meeting would improve relations between the two countries.

 

In an interview, the President said he and President Xi had an opportunity to talk for several minutes after a tree-planting event.

 

According to him, President Xi mentioned the good relationship between the Philippines and China dates back many years ago.

 

President Xi hoped that the Philippine side could return to the basis of the two countries’ previous consensus, and go in the same direction as China to deal with relevant issues in a constructive way, and to create conditions for the healthy development of China-Philippines relations, he said.

 

The Philippines and China have been embroiled in a territorial dispute in the West Philippines Sea. The country has filed an arbitration case at the international tribunal to resolve the territorial row, a move rejected by China. (PNA)