Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with Communist Party of China (CPC) and Foreign Affairs Director Wang Yi to affirm the friendly relations between the two countries and not to let it be hindered by maritime issues. Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's (left) meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) and Foreign Affairs Director Wang Yi (right) on April 3, 2023. (Photo from Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian via Facebook)
Arroyo and Wang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, held talks on various bilateral topics, chief among them is the decades-long friendly ties between the two countries. The Chinese official called Arroyo “a good friend and old friend of the Chinese people” who has “done a lot for the friendship between the two countries.” “He expressed the hope that Macapagal-Arroyo will continue her constructive role in the sound development of China-Philippines relations,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said in a post about the meeting on Facebook. For her part, the former president said that she witnessed the rapid development and progress of China during this five-day visit to China. “Noting that the Philippines-China friendship will benefit the two countries and two peoples, she expressed readiness to continue her efforts to promote the sound development of Philippines-China relations,” the post added. Shortly before the meeting between the two officials, Wang met with the other Philippine and Chinese delegates to encourage the youth of the two countries “to inherit the friendly tradition, enhance mutual understanding, and pass on the China-Philippines friendship from generation to generation.” He recalled the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Beijing early this year, where both heads of state “gave important strategic guidance on the development of China-Philippines relations, pointing out that the two countries will stay good neighbors helping each other, good relatives sharing affinity, and good partners pursuing win-win cooperation.” Huang stressed that both countries must handle their differences through communication and dialogue. “The two sides must not allow the overall development of bilateral relations to be hindered by maritime issues and their friendly relations sabotaged by third parties, let alone allow the Cold War mentality to resurge and undermine regional peace and stability,” he added. During her visit, Arroyo was also awarded the honorary title of “Friendship Ambassador” by the Chinese government. Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left) is conferred the title of Friendship Ambassador during an awarding ceremony in China on April 3, 2023. (Photo from Amb. Huang Xilian/Facebook)
Huang shared about the event, which happened on Monday, April 3, through his Facebook post. “Heartfelt thanks to H.E. (Her Excellency) GMA for her significant role and contributions in promoting the China-Philippines relations and enhancing the friendship between our two peoples over the decades,” he said. “This award of ‘Friendship Ambassador’ for her is well deserved. It is not only to express the respect and gratitude of the Chinese people, but also to expect more people of insight to devote themselves to the great cause of China-Philippines friendship,” the envoy added. The event, Huang shared, was attended by Ambassador Lin Songtian, president of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), who presented the medal and certificate to Arroyo. The“Friendship Ambassador” award was established by CPAFFC to honor foreigners who have made excellent contributions to the promotion of people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries.