PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the Philippines and China will stand and work together to fight criminality, the illegal drug trade and terrorism in the region.
In a speech delivered at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China, President Duterte did not mention the longstanding territorial dispute in the South China Sea, but said instead that the Philippines is ready to work with China and all nations in the region to seek friendship and cooperation.
“With China, we stand together in the war on criminality and the illegal drug trade. We are shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Make no mistake: There can be no progress without stability in Asia’s lands and waters,” he said.
“The Philippines has made considerable headway in improving the peace and order situation under this administration,” Duterte said.
China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under Duterte.
Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam also claim some or all of the South China Sea and its myriad shoals, reefs and islands.
China claims most of the waterway and has been aggressively building and militarizing artificial islands.
Duterte said that “bilaterally, the Philippines has shown how complex relations are,” but said this is not a bar to positive and mutually beneficial engagement.
Also in his speech, Duterte said the Philippines has dreamed of a comfortable life for its citizens, envisioning a society with opportunities for all and a nation of hard working, talented, and law-abiding people.
“We are slowly making the Filipino dream a reality. As we strive to push our economy forward, we encounter challenges. But we will not be deterred. We seek to partner with responsible businesses—homegrown and foreign based—to drive the progress we envision,” Duterte said.
The President noted that his administration has improved the peace and order situation and sustained the battle against corruption.
“We are strengthening the policy framework for businesses to thrive,” he added, as he vowed not to tolerate corruption in his administration.
Duterte noted that his administration has ambitious goals, as he underscored plans to spend 5 to 7 percent of the country’s GDP on infrastructure.
He also noted the target of reducing poverty from 22 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022.
Duterte said his administration’s flagship program, the “Build, Build, Build,” is expected to provide the solid backbone for growth and will upgrade infrastructure, connect more people and communities, and create more jobs.
So far, the government has already started a three-year rolling program amounting to over $69 billion until 2022, the President reported.
The President said his administration is also investing in innovation, particularly in science and technology and human development.
“With greater access to technology and financing, we will apply science, technology and nnovation in agriculture and the service industries. We will invest in improving research and development and intensify international cooperation in this area. We are willing to learn from others,” he said.
President Duterte also renewed the Philippines’ commitment to interconnectivity, both in functional terms and in political engagement.
“We will continue our efforts to broaden and deepen our economic engagement and cooperation with our friends and neighbors. We must harness the potential for shared growth in our region and beyond,” he added.
The BFA gathers over 2,000 participants worldwide to discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation, global governance, and world economy and trade in building a new consensus and produce new outcome. With PNA
