illions of dollars in potential Chinese investments for the economy and a Chinese greeting for his Cabinet members were President Benigno Aquino III's "pasalubong" when he returned from a five-day visit to China Saturday night.
While Aquino announced the investments in his arrival statement, he greeted his Cabinet "Xie xie nimen (My thanks to you all)."
"Applause breaks out after President Aquino bids his Cabinet goodbye and 'Xie xie nimen,'" deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte tweeted.
A photo Valte uploaded via her Twitter account showed Aquino meeting with his Cabinet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Cabinet members in the photo included Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.
On the other hand, Aquino said his visit resulted in billions of dollars in investments.
“Tinatayang $3.8 billion ang halaga ng mga halos tiyak na na mga investments, at nasa $7.9 billion naman ang tinatayang halaga ng mga investments mula sa mga korporasyong nagpahiwatig ng matinding interes na mamuhunan sa ating bansa," he added.
But he said that while his visit opened the doors to investments, it is up to Filipinos to keep the door open by not engaging in corruption.
“We should not demonstrate a wang-wang mentality that smacks of corruption. We want them to hear only good news about the Philippines. We are trying to set up a country that is ready to compete with and help other countries," he said in Filipino.
He also reported that during his visit:- Both sides signed agreements covering trade, economy, technical cooperation, tourism, sports, culture and information.
- Both sides agreed to make 2012-2013 the Philippine-China Year of Friendly Exchanges seeking to double two-way tourist arrivals to two million by 2016.
- Both countries are targeting $60 billion in total two-way trade by 2016.
- China agreed to help maintain peace in the West Philippine Sea by helping implement the ASEAN Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.“Ang mas maganda pa pong balita rito, tugma ang pananaw natin sa kanila sa kahalagahang mapanatili ang kapayapaan sa lugar na ito [West Philippine Sea]..." Aquino said.
Business gains
In Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen, Aquino attended a series of meetings where he said he put across the message that the Philippines is open for business.
“There are opportunities for Chinese investors in the Philippines in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and tourism," he said.
Meanwhile, Aquino lauded the Filipino community in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen for their hard work and contribution to the economy there.
He said the Filipinos there are held in high esteem as engineers, media practitioners, teachers, and musicians.
“Nasa ibayong dagat man, taas-noo nilang iwinawagayway ang asul, pula, [puti] at dilaw nating bandila. Isa po ito sa mga nagpapatatag sa aking loob na lalo pang pagbutihin ang pamamahala sa bansa, nang hindi maglaon, dito na mismo nila magamit at maibahagi ang kanilang husay at talento sa mga kapwa nila Pilipino," he said.
Also, Aquino said he went to Fujian to visit his family roots, including seeing a tree his late mother Corazon planted when she visited China in 1988.
“Kaya po minarapat kong dumalaw at magpasalamat sa aking mga kamag-anak sa Fujian na nagpabatid naman ng kanilang suporta sa ating pagtahak ng tuwid na landas," he said. — LBG
