The government-to-government (G2G) cooperation projects between the Philippines and China resumed smoothly with an over 80 percent work capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Embassy said Sunday.
This development was highlighted during the recent virtual conference between Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar where they discussed the progress of the G2G projects and how to overcome the negative impact of COVID-19.
Huang appreciated the efforts made by the Philippine side to fulfill the consensus of President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping of promoting the G2G projects between Manila and Beijing.
“The Philippine economic team and the Chinese Embassy have maintained an effective mechanism of communication and cooperation. During the trying times of the pandemic, they have worked even more closely and vigorously with each other and adopted many creative ways to push forward the implementation of the projects,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement posted on its social media site.
The DPWH has been tasked to implement 14 cooperation projects between China and the Philippines, three of which have been completed, while the other 11 are already underway, according to the Chinese Embassy.
Two of the projects -- the bridges on Pasig River -- are due for completion within the Duterte administration.
Villar commended the progress of the DPWH-led cooperation projects as he expressed his willingness to work closely with the Chinese side in battling the pandemic and pushing forward all the projects and bring more benefits to the local people.
Huang encouraged both sides to carry out more innovative ways to further strengthen their future cooperation and expressed hope that more projects would be launched and implemented to enable both countries to benefit from the synergies of the Belt and Road Initiative and “Build, Build, Build” programs.