Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian praised First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for the successful restoration of the Pasig River and the historic Jones Bridge, which were done in a “very short period of time.”
Chinese ambassador thanks First Lady for Jones Bridge project
Published Jun 8, 2025 08:56 am
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Updated Jun 8, 2025 01:10 pm
At A Glance
- Huang credited the First Lady for initiating the project and turning it into reality.
BRIGHT LIGHTS — President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the lighting of Jones Bridge during a ceremony in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-China Bilateral Relations at the Pasig Esplanade in Manila on June 7, 2025. Joining the President are Pasig River Rehabilitation Secretary Jerry Acuzar, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. President Mr. Victor Lim. (Noel Pabalate, Marianne Bermudez, Yummie Dingding / PPA Pool)
Speaking at the bridge lighting ceremony at the Pasig River Esplanade in Manila, on Saturday evening, June 7, Huang credited the First Lady for initiating the project and turning it into reality.
The Chinese envoy also credited the Chinese engineers who participated in the project.
“Our appreciation and congratulations should go first to the First Lady for initiating this project and turning this project into reality in a very short period of time. A big applause for First Lady,” he said.
“I would also like to express my special thanks to the Chinese engineers who have contributed their talents and their hard work on this project,” he added.
Huang noted that the beautification project was inspired by the Liangma River development in Beijing — a public space revitalized through ecological improvements and urban design.
“This project implies how much we can learn from each other,” he said, pointing to the Pasig River Urban Development initiative, which includes the Jones Bridge lighting.
Ambassador Huang reiterated the “strong friendship” between the two countries despite geopolitical challenges.
“Half a century ago, the leaders of our two countries sized up their situation and made a strategic and audacious decision to establish our diplomatic relations,” he said.
“As we celebrate the golden jubilee of the diplomatic relations, we have every reason to revisit the original vision of our forefathers and follow the heartfelt wishes of our two peoples to seek cooperation instead of confrontation — dialogue instead of conflict,” he added.
The lighting of Jones Bridge, according to President Marcos, is part of a broader effort to restore Binondo — the world’s oldest Chinatown — and reaffirm its cultural and economic significance.
“We brought new life to Jones Bridge to further enrich the history, culture, and livelihood of Binondo,” he wrote on Instagram.
“This is part of the Chinatown Revitalization Project, which aims to make our historic districts safer and more open for families, students, workers, and small businesses,” he added.
First Lady Liza Marcos has been on top of the Pasig River rehabilitation project, lamenting how the iconic river had been ignored over the years.
In February this year, she announced that the Philippine government and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based nonprofit Clean Rivers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to clear and revive the vital Pasig River waterway.
According to Marcos, she hoped the improvements would be completed in time for the country's hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026.
In a Facebook post, Special Envoy to the United Arab Emirates for Trade and Investments Kathryna Yu-Pimentel said the UAE, through the Erth Zayed Philanthropies, donated $20 million for the Pasig River rehabilitation efforts.
The partnership will focus on preventative and corrective solutions to rehabilitate the waterway while creating socio-economic opportunities for local communities.