On May 25, 2006, the spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines announced that the Philippines-China Economic Partnership Forum sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce China and the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines will be held from June 5th to 6th in Manila. The forum aims to review the China-Philippines economic cooperation and explore main areas and major projects of long-term future cooperation.

      A large Chinese official delegation headed by Hon. Bo Xilai, Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce will attend the forum. Over 200 local officials and businessmen from more than 10 provinces of China like Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Fujian, Shandong, Jilin will also participate. Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker of the House Jose De Venecia, Secretary of Trade and Industry Peter Favila are expected to attend the opening ceremony. Several hundreds of Philippines officials and businessmen will also join the forum.