By Roy Mabasa China has no hidden geopolitical agenda in the Philippines, and will never set any trap for its neighbor, a ranking Chinese Embassy official said on Wednesday. (MANILA BULLETIN) In his remarks at the Christmas party hosted by the Chinese Embassy, Charge d’Affaires Tan Qinsheng said China and the Philippines have a history of friendly exchanges for more than a thousand years. and have every reason to be good neighbors and friends. “Let me say it again, China has no hidden geopolitical agenda in the Philippines, and we will never set up any trap whatsoever for the Philippines,” the Chinese diplomat said. He expressed their willingness to work with the Philippine media to present to the Filipino people “a true and complete picture of China” and promote trust and amity between the two countries. In a survey released by the Social Weather Station (SWS) last month, China recorded a “poor” -16 net trust rating among Filipinos, versus the “very good” +59 net rating of the United States and the +28 net rating of Japan. The SWS survey, conducted from September 15 to 23, was released on November 20, only hours before the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day state visit to the Philippines. The Chinese embassy official also encouraged Filipinos to visit China and “get to know more about China.” “While developing itself, China won’t stay shut behind a closed door, rather always standing ready to share with other countries, the Philippines included. China and the Philippines have a history of friendly exchanges for more than a thousand years. We have every reason to be good neighbors and friends,” he added.