China will provide P800-million additional grant to the Philippines to help in its reconstruction efforts in areas hit by typhoon Odette last year.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi announced this on Monday, Jan. 17, during the 5th Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations.
"The Philippine people are strong and resilient. We believe that under the leadership of President Duterte and the Philippine government, people in the affected areas will rebuild their homes at an early date," Wang said in his speech.
"To support their reconstruction, I'd like to announce that the Chinese Government has decided to provide another 100 million RMB yuan of grant to the Philippines," the Chinese Foreign Minister added.
He stressed that China and the Philippines are neighbors facing each other across the sea and "partners through thick and thin."
The foreign minister also emphasized that when the Philippines was hit by typhoon Odette, President Xi Jinping promptly expressed his sympathies and support, and the Chinese government was among the first to provide emergency assistance.
"We hope the new grant will help boost the recovery," he said.
China had initially provided P50-million emergency cash assistance to the Philippines to help the government in its relief operations and assist typhoon victims rebuild their homes at an early date.
READ MORE: US, China, South Korea pledge cash aid to PH for 'Odette' relief ops
On Dec. 29, 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Manila also donated 100,000 bottles of drinking water amounting to P1 million to typhoon-hit communities.
READ MORE: China donates P1-M drinking water for typhoon victims
On Jan. 16, Sunday, over 5,000 relief packs were distributed by the Chinese Embassy Odette-stricken municipalities of San Miguel, Trinidad, and Inabaga in Bohol province.