(March 19, 2026 | ALIW Theater)

Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you at Chinese Cultural Courier @the Philippines. Thank you for coming to this cultural event. 

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, I warmly welcome the delegation and performers from Shaanxi Province. I also extend sincere greetings to everyone here tonight. 

My thanks go to the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations of the Philippines Foundation, and those who have worked hard in making this event possible.

Culture and tourism are bridges. They deepen exchange and build friendship. Before the pandemic in 2019, China was the Philippines’ second-largest source of visitors, with 1.74 million arrivals. By the end of 2025, that number fell to a mere 262,000. We welcome the recent Philippine announcement of a 14-day visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. This is a positive step for people-to-people exchange.

The visa-free policy has raised travel interest to the Philippines, and bookings increased over this Chinese New Year. Airlines are adding capacity and routes: Xiamen Airlines will revive Quanzhou–Cebu direct flights on March 29, and Air China will launch Chongqing–Manila direct service on May 1, offering faster and more convenient travel for passengers. At the same time, negative reports—online gambling scams and incidents involving Chinese citizens—have left some travelers worried. We will make good use of the visa-free policy while actively preventing and managing risks to ensure safe travel.  

China and the Philippines are neighbors; we should learn from, help, and respect each other. We are both very kind people, and there is no reason for hatred. China treats the Philippines as a friend and neighbor, offering sincere help without conditions. China’s development is not a threat but an opportunity for the Philippines. I hope more Filipinos will visit China to see our technology, ride our high-speed trains, enjoy our landscapes and cuisine, and meet pandas. As more people travel between our countries, misunderstandings will naturally fade. 

The “Chinese Cultural Courier @the Philippines” started in early 2022 and, with strong support by Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations of the Philippines Foundation, has held 16 successful events that showcase China’s regional cultures and has made a broad, lasting impact in the Philippines, becoming an important platform for people-to-people ties. Shaanxi, a cradle of Chinese civilization and the starting place of the Silk Road, will tonight present the unique charm of the Silk Road culture, which we eagerly anticipate. 

Stable China–Philippines relations rely on the joint efforts of many. Cultural exchange works subtly but powerfully. Let this event be a new start: everyone can contribute, with funds or effort, to boost travel and cultural exchange, improve public sentiment, and stabilize bilateral ties. Together, we can strengthen China–Philippines friendship. 

Wish tonight’s event every success. Thank you.