Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and Lazada have expressed optimism about the Philippine market as former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited their headquarters during her recent trip to China. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Arroyo’s visit, particularly to Shanghai, signified the country's "intensified" interaction with business leaders in one of the global financial hubs. The former president travelled to Shanghai and Hangzhou on April 1 and 2 to lead a group of Filipino youth as part of a larger itinerary in China on the invitation of the Beijing-based China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA). The Filipino youths were selected by the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU), a Philippine NGO established in 1974 to promote people-to-people diplomacy and friendship with China. "Both Alibaba and Lazada expressed excitement over the dynamism of the Philippines' e-commerce market," DFA said. DFA said the highlight of their itinerary was a visit to Alibaba's headquarters, the "Xixi campus," as Arroyo was greeted by its chairman, Zhang Yong, with Lazada chief executive officer James Dong. "Chairman Zhang proudly cited Philippine products now 'unlocking the Chinese market' via Alibaba platforms, such as Sunflower crackers Sunnies Face cosmetics, and Kojie San skin lightening products," DFA added. In 1977, Arroyo first visited Shanghai in an eye-opening sojourn just before Deng Xiaoping ushered in the transformative Reform and Opening Up policy that gave birth to China. Her current trip was organized and designed around her 1977 itinerary, for the benefit of participating Filipino youths.