Martin Romualdez, Head of Lakas–CMD and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Meets with Liu Jianchao
 ( 2022.08.29 )

Manila, August 27th—Martin Romualdez, Head of Lakas–Christian Muslim (Lakas–CMD) and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, met here today on the afternoon with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC).

Romualdez spoke positively of the friendly exchanges between Lakas–CMD and the CPC, and wished the 20th CPC National Congress a success. He expected to strengthen inter-party exchanges with the Chinese side, deepen the traditional friendship between the Philippines and China, and actively contribute to the opening of the “golden era” of the Philippines-China relations. The Philippine side thanked the Chinese side for the long-term support and help for its economic and social development. The Philippine government has formulated a series of plans for economic development, and is actively coping with complex factors such as the changing external environment. It looks forward to, together with the Chinese side, deepening practical cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, infrastructure construction, energy and investment, to boost the economic recovery of the Philippines. The Philippines-China relations cannot be defined by the South China Sea issue, which is just aspecificissue of our bilateral relations. The Philippine side believes that both countries should continue to focus on friendly cooperation, and consolidate mutual trust and the foundation of consensus of properly coping with the South China Sea issue.

Liu thanked Romualdez for inviting the CPC delegation to visit the Philippines. He said, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos not long ago, and they reached important consensus on the development of China-Philippines relations in the new era, and charted the course for, and injected impetus into the “golden era” of bilateral relations. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Philippine side to implement the consensus of the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance political mutual trust, deepen the convergence of interests, push the integration between the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Build, Build, Build" program of the Philippines, and consolidate cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people and cultural engagement, to propel China-Philippines cooperation for more fruitful results and better benefit the two peoples.

Liu said, both sides must make more efforts to cherish and jointly maintain the hard-won China-Philippines good-neighborliness and friendship. Both sides must summarize the precious experience of the exchanges between the two countries, and continue to properly cope with the South China Sea issue through dialogue and negotiationto maintain the general picture of China-Philippines friendship. Calling exchanges between the political parties of both countries an important part of China-Philippines relations, Liu said the CPC is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with major political parties of the Philippines, including Lakas–CMD, so as to reinforce the political and non-governmental foundations of China-Philippines friendship.

Liu also had exchanges with members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines who were present, and answered their questions.

Enditem