China has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations with the Philippines, despite challenges in bilateral ties, highlighting people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation as areas for continued engagement.
Chinese Consul General Zhao Xiuzhen conveyed the message through Deputy Consul General Wang Mingqing during the 77th anniversary celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Davao City on September 16, 2026.
Zhao acknowledged that China-Philippines relations currently face challenges but said geographical proximity and cultural ties provide a basis for continued cooperation. She identified peace, mutual benefit and people-to-people connections as important foundations for the relationship.
She also cited increased travel between the two countries. According to Zhao, Chinese arrivals in the Philippines increased by 63 percent during the first half of 2026, while Filipino visitors to China rose by 49 percent during the same period.
The Chinese Consulate General in Davao also plans to continue expanding exchanges with Mindanao, including cooperation in various sectors. Zhao cited visits by Davao City councilors to China and visits by officials from China’s Fujian and Yunnan provinces to Davao as examples of recent exchanges.
According to Zhao, the visits provided opportunities for officials from both sides to exchange experiences and explore possible areas of cooperation.
The consulate has also supported community-level initiatives in Mindanao, including education assistance, school construction and schoolbag donations. In cooperation with the Davao City Government, it donated 580 wheelchairs, while experts from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine conducted free traditional Chinese medicine consultations in Davao.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte also spoke at the anniversary celebration, describing the event as an opportunity to reaffirm cooperation and shared development between China and the Philippines.
Duterte thanked the Chinese Consulate General for its continued engagement with Davao City and said bilateral cooperation had created opportunities in areas including infrastructure, education, trade, tourism, technology and innovation.
Zhao also discussed China’s Global Governance Initiative, saying it had received support from nearly 160 countries and international organizations. She said China intended to work with other countries toward what she described as a more just and equitable global governance system.
The Chinese consul general said the consulate would continue promoting people-to-people exchanges as well as economic and trade cooperation with Mindanao.
She added that China was willing to work with the Philippines to maintain what she described as the traditional friendship between the two countries and strengthen ties across generations.
