The Chinese government on Thursday, Jan. 25, launched its visa application center in Manila to ramp up people-to-people exchange between China and the Philippines.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian led the inauguration of the Chinese Visa Application Center on Ayala Avenue in Makati City, where he said the new facility would improve service for those wanting to obtain Chinese visa and "enhance people-to-people exchanges."

The move was taken as the embassy had remained "challenged to fully meet the increasing demand of visa application" despite its tireless work to improve visa processing capacity and service.

"The enthusiasm of Filipinos to visit China and the demand for Chinese visa have been growing fast over the years," Huang said.

"This was a decision based on careful study and with the support of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and relevant parties," he added.

Although the visa center is a commercial entity, Huang said the decision on visa approval would remain with the embassy.

He also assured that it would prioritize data security and take strict measures to protect the privacy of applicants.

"The operation of the Visa Center is under comprehensive supervision of the Embassy to ensure best and safest service," he added.

With the new visa center, Huang hoped that the Philippines and China would meet each other halfway "to maintain the correct direction of bilateral relations."

He also wanted both sides to "release more confidence-boosting information, take concrete steps to promote exchanges, and inject new impetus into friendly cooperation in various fields."

"Amity between the peoples holds the key to sound state-to-state relations," he said.

"The exchanges of personnel is a crucial basis for enhancing mutual understanding, deepening cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, and culture, and sharing development opportunities between China and the Philippines," he added.