The Philippines and China share the same priorities and outlook in their respective agriculture sectors, making both countries' agricultural ties "very promising."
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. shares a conversation with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian during the Award for promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) awarding ceremony held at The Manila Hotel on June 8, 2023. (Ali Vicoy)
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated this on Friday, June 16, after witnessing the turnover ceremony of the 20,000 metric tons of urea fertilizers by the Chinese government to the Philippines in Valenzuela City. “It’s very, very promising,” Marcos said in an interview when asked about his expectations on the agricultural cooperation between the two countries. “It turns out that the priority that we put here in the Philippines on agriculture, the Chinese government, as it was explained to me by President Xi when I went to visit him last January, was the same, that their outlook, that their priorities are the same,” he added. The President said that the Philippines and China have the same goal of providing affordable food supplies to the people, ensuring farmers’ needs are attended to and providing them good living conditions, and enhancing productivity of the two countries’ agricultural commodities. He stressed that it was important that the two countries maintained good ties so that they can learn from one another when it comes to agriculture. “So we can learn from one another in many, many ways. And I think that has been an ongoing process for a long time now. Not just now because of the food crisis that we are feeling around the world, but also because we have very similar priorities when it comes to agriculture,” he said. “So, I’m very optimistic,” he added. The chief executive also expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue to benefit from the cooperation with China and would consequently help increase the productivity of the agriculture sector. [READ MORE: Marcos: PH has not shifted away from China](https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/8/marcos-ph-has-not-shifted-away-from-china)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. shares a conversation with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian during the Award for promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) awarding ceremony held at The Manila Hotel on June 8, 2023. (Ali Vicoy)
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated this on Friday, June 16, after witnessing the turnover ceremony of the 20,000 metric tons of urea fertilizers by the Chinese government to the Philippines in Valenzuela City. “It’s very, very promising,” Marcos said in an interview when asked about his expectations on the agricultural cooperation between the two countries. “It turns out that the priority that we put here in the Philippines on agriculture, the Chinese government, as it was explained to me by President Xi when I went to visit him last January, was the same, that their outlook, that their priorities are the same,” he added. The President said that the Philippines and China have the same goal of providing affordable food supplies to the people, ensuring farmers’ needs are attended to and providing them good living conditions, and enhancing productivity of the two countries’ agricultural commodities. He stressed that it was important that the two countries maintained good ties so that they can learn from one another when it comes to agriculture. “So we can learn from one another in many, many ways. And I think that has been an ongoing process for a long time now. Not just now because of the food crisis that we are feeling around the world, but also because we have very similar priorities when it comes to agriculture,” he said. “So, I’m very optimistic,” he added. The chief executive also expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue to benefit from the cooperation with China and would consequently help increase the productivity of the agriculture sector. [READ MORE: Marcos: PH has not shifted away from China](https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/8/marcos-ph-has-not-shifted-away-from-china)