Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening to all of you!
It is such a pleasure to join you on the eve of the 49th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines and the 23rd China-Philippines Friendship Day, and celebrate the 4th Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU). I would also like to thank Her Excellency, the Former President Macapagal-Arroyo, and also the Senate President Chiz Escudero and Sen. Bong Go and the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz for their very warm remarks.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would also like to extend warm congratulations to all the laureates of the award of 2024, and sincere appreciation to APCU and all the colleagues for organizing this great event. The APPCU award was born during the hard days of the COVID-19 rampage. Thanks to the support of those with a broader view, we are giving out the annual award for six persons for the 4th time. The APPCU has become a flagship program to enhance traditional friendship, mutual understanding, and affinity between our two countries. Our friendship spans over more than a millennium. In the mid-1970s, the older generation of our leaders made a strategic decision to open up a new era of diplomatic ties. 40 years have passed and our commitment to the millennium-old friendship and affinity has kept us inspired as always.
The growth of APPCU is a shining example of such an inspiration. Over the past four years, 33 Filipino friends have received this award. They are those who have contributed to China-Philippines friendship as a way of life, and who endorse and champion the traditional friendship in the new era. They are those who bear witness to and actually work for mutual understanding and amity between our two countries.
History gives perspective. As Honorable Senate President Francis“Chiz” Escudero said just now in the video message, it’s natural for China and the Philippines, the two close neighbors, to have differences. Despite having different positions on some specific issues, this should not comprise the reason for misunderstandings, misjudgments, or even conflicts. China always advocates that we should, on the basis of mutual understanding and respect, properly manage and handle our differences through dialogue and consultation, and promote the sound and stable development of our bilateral relations. Despite ups and downs since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Philippines relations have always been tenacious and forged ahead against all odds. This follows the defining trend of the times, reflects the will of the two peoples, and is also inseparable from the tireless efforts of people from different walks of life, including all of our guests today present here. Greater efforts have always made each time when bilateral relations encounter difficulties. The trend of China-Philippines friendly cooperation cannot be held back by anyone or any force.
At present, China-Philippines relations are once again at a crossroads. We hope that more and more people from different sectors of societies will join the great cause of promoting mutual understanding and amity between China and the Philippines and contribute to and safeguard the millennium-old friendship.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I conclude by congratulating the six awardees today again and wishing this year’s APPCU awarding ceremony a great success!
Thank you and mabuhay!