On Sept. 27, 2024, the Ambassador of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, hosted a grand reception in Manila, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He expressed his special appreciation to First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos and Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero for gracing the reception, extended cordial greetings to guests, congratulations to his Chinese compatriots in the Philippines, and sincere gratitude to friends who have been caring for and supportive of China’s development and China-Philippines friendship.
Ambassador Huang’s speech was a reflection of China’s journey. “Over the past 75 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese people have worked hard as one to build a country from poverty to prosperity. China’s economic progress has made it a powerful engine and a steady anchor for global growth. We are the world’s second-largest economy and our manufacturing industry is particularly impressive in its own right, contributing about 30 percent of the added value of the global manufacturing output. China has been a driving force in global and regional growth, and Asian countries including the Philippines are the ones to benefit from this. While China accounts for around 30 percent of the growth of the world, we contribute over 50 percent of that of Asia,” Ambassador Huang said.
The Ambassador’s address highlighted China's development with a people-centered approach, particularly its unprecedented success in lifting more than 800 million people out of poverty—an achievement that represents over 70 percent of global poverty alleviation in recent decades. Huang also proudly shared that China’s life expectancy has risen to 78.6 years and that the nation now boasts 400 million middle-income citizens, a testament to its focus on both economic quality and quality of life.
A strong message of continued reform and modernization was emphasized, as China adapted its traditional industries while cultivating new ones. With recent reforms from the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, Ambassador Huang affirmed China’s commitment to high-quality development and openness in the new era, declaring that the country's growth would create new opportunities for itself, the region, and the world.
Looking ahead, the Ambassador acknowledged the upcoming 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines. “Harmonious coexistence, friendship, and cooperation as well as common development between China and the Philippines are in line with the shared desire and fundamental interests of the 1.5 billion people of our two countries together. History has shown that China-Philippines relations have maintained a general trend of forward-moving, despite some ups and downs. History has also shown that as long as our differences are properly managed, the road of China-Philippines cooperation will be even broader. So let us renew the original commitment to our diplomatic ties, keep in mind the well-being of the two peoples, always remember the fundamental interests of our two countries, work together to steer clear of disruptions, and advance China-Philippines friendship and cooperation for common prosperity and lasting peace,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Ambassador Huang wished prosperity for both China and the Philippines, “Long live the traditional friendship between China and the Philippines!” His final words resonated with shared hope for an even stronger partnership in the coming years.
