The China-Philippines Manila Forum was held. What are the main highlights of this forum?

According to Philippine China Television, the first China Forum was co-sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Philippines-China Understanding Association, with the theme of "Joining Hands to Promote Economic Recovery" and China's Role in Post-Epidemic Regional Economic Recovery. - The Philippines Manila Forum will be held through the ZOOM cloud video conferencing platform at 3 pm on March 3.

This is one of the important activities jointly announced by the State Councilor and Foreign Minister during his visit to the Philippines in January this year, together with the former President and Honorary Chairman of the Philippines-China Understanding Association, Mr. Alroyo.

Jin Liqun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will deliver a keynote speech titled "China and the Philippines Join Hands to Promote Economic Recovery from the COVID-19 Epidemic" and interact with participants in a Q&A session.

Former President Arroyo delivered a congratulatory speech at this forum. His Excellency Huang Xilian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the Philippines, and Philippine Secretary of Industry and Commerce Robles delivered opening remarks. Officials, experts, scholars, media and other people from all walks of life in the fields of bilateral relations and economics will be invited to attend.

Huang Qizhao, chairman of the Philippine-China Understanding Association, said in an interview with Philippine China Television: The Philippines has experienced the most severe economic contraction since World War II, -9.5%. China has experienced a strong recovery from the initial lockdown in Wuhan to now. ?

Huang Qizhao said: ?China can greatly promote the economic recovery of the Philippines through increased trade, investment, aid and loans with the Philippines, and even ultimately tourists. We need to provide job opportunities to the millions of Filipinos who lost their jobs last year. ?

Huang Qizhao added: ?The tourism industry has suffered the most from the epidemic. There will be zero international tourists during this time. Almost all related industries such as airlines, hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel and transportation companies have suffered due to this. A significant increase in Chinese tourists will contribute to a strong recovery in our tourism industry. ?

As for Philippine President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure construction plan, Huang Qizhao said that Chinese companies can provide the amount of investment required for these infrastructure projects and create job opportunities for local people. The AIIB and Chinese banks can also provide financing for these BBB projects. The China-Philippines Manila Forum is an innovative new platform for dialogue and exchange between China and the Philippines jointly promoted by the Chinese Foreign Minister and former Philippine President Arroyo to increase mutual trust, promote cooperation and resolve differences. This forum focuses on analyzing the opportunities that China's development has brought to the world and the region, exploring new areas, new ways and new starting points for China, the Philippines and the region to achieve mutual benefit and win-win in the post-epidemic era, and laying the foundation for economic recovery in China, the Philippines and the region. Provide intellectual support.

The forum was broadcast live and reported in real time through new media platforms such as the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Philippine China Television, and China-ASEAN Report. The organizer of the forum welcomes friends from all walks of life in China and the Philippines to participate in this grand event, actively pay attention to and participate in this grand event of ideological collision, and work together to promote the lasting and stable development of China-Philippines relations.