Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends:

Good evening!

Today, we are gathered to celebrate the arrival of spring-the Chinese New Year-a tradition that has long been observed and cherished here in the Philippines.

Since the first Chinese settlement in the Philippines in 1594, this tradition has taken root and flourished on this land. It is no surprise, then, that my schedule for the next two weeks is filled with Spring Festival celebrations across the country.

I have been in the Philippines for just two months, and the pace of work has been intense-some days with as many as seven events. Yet I truly enjoy this busy schedule, because my team and I are getting things done.

One question has stayed with me throughout these weeks: how can China-Philippines relations stabilize as soon as possible and continue moving forward? My own reflection is that, in recent times, we have not been meeting each other enough.

Political dialogue has at times nearly come to a standstill. People-to-people exchanges dropped sharply-from nearly three million visits before the pandemic to fewer than 300,000 last year. This situation must change, and it must change quickly.

There is a Chinese saying: meeting face to face makes things work. This is even more true between countries. We have worked to resume political dialogue-the most recent round was held in Cebu at the end of January, after a hiatus of more than a year. Both sides agreed on a roadmap, and we are committed to upgrading this dialogue and expanding it into more areas.

Not long ago, the Philippine government announced a 14-day visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. We welcome this move and fully appreciate the efforts behind it-some have worked for years to make this possible. With this policy, more Chinese tourists can now plan casual trips to the Philippines.

At the same time, safety remains a concern for travelers. This is why we have been working closely with Philippine law enforcement to strengthen joint efforts against cross-border crime, including kidnapping and fraud, so visitors can enjoy carefree travel throughout the archipelago.

I have also met with many business leaders. Overall, they are optimistic about the prospects of China–Philippines economic cooperation. China has been the Philippines’ largest trading partner for ten consecutive years, and this cooperation has brought tangible benefits to both sides.

My vision, however, goes further. I hope to see more Chinese high-tech solutions adopted in the Philippines-waste-to-energy, green energy, high-end healthcare, eco-agriculture, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy. These areas can help upgrade the Philippine economy and are fully aligned with the vision of a community with a shared future proposed by President Xi Jinping.

Recently, I traveled beyond Manila to five provinces and cities, including Cebu and Davao. I hope to further promote subnational and local exchanges between our two countries.

The Chinese community in Cebu has expressed strong hopes for the resumption of direct flights between Cebu and Xiamen in Fujian. Upon returning to Manila, I immediately began working on this.

Some friends have also suggested opening a direct flight between Manila and Chongqing. I’m not entirely sure why, but Filipinos seem particularly fascinated by Chongqing-a magical city where trains pass through buildings.

If there is sufficient demand, why not? As long as it helps build understanding and trust between our two peoples, the Embassy will actively support it.

I have also visited schools to deliver scholarships and educational supplies. Over the past two years alone, our Embassy has donated six basketball courts to schools across the Philippines. 

At a primary school in a mountain village, I was invited to dance with the children. Their simple, joyful smiles were truly heartwarming. I also invited the principal to bring students to China for a summer camp, and they were delighted.

During my visit to Davao, I attended the handover ceremony of the Bucana Bridge. Donated by China, the bridge has shortened what was once a two-hour drive to just 20 minutes. Another bridge is now under construction. In Manila alone, three bridges have been built with Chinese support. 

Standing on the Bucana Bridge, I reflected that a true friend always feels compelled to share development. During the pandemic, China provided the Philippines with 55 million doses of vaccines-even at a time when we ourselves did not yet have enough.

In Chinese culture, harmony with one’s neighbors is deeply valued-after all, a close neighbor matters more than a distant relative. One may win a confrontation with a smaller neighbor, but risk losing a long-term relationship. That is why China consistently advocates dialogue: sitting down, talking things through, and finding ways to manage differences.

This year, the Philippines serves as ASEAN’s rotating chair. Both China and the Philippines hope to accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Reaching an agreement would lay a solid foundation for managing maritime differences and advancing bilateral relations.

 The COC has been under discussion for more than a decade. It is time to see real results. Both sides should keep the bigger picture in mind and work together to deliver.

As we advance China–Philippines cooperation, we also hear certain noises from time to time. Some are keen to spread false narratives, smear China, and stoke confrontation. It is the mission of my Embassy to firmly and clearly say “no” to this.

We cannot allow misinformation to mislead the public or undermine bilateral relations. At the same time, we will continue expanding practical cooperation-using positive momentum to drown out the noise, until such distortions find no audience and no believers.

China warmly welcomes guests from around the world. We are pleased to see the “Becoming Chinese” trend on social media, where young people share videos of everyday Chinese life-drinking hot water or brewing herbal tea, having porridge for breakfast, wearing cotton slippers, practicing martial arts, or choosing red for good fortune. 

We hope more Filipino friends will visit China in person-to experience its cutting-edge technology, ride high-speed trains, enjoy its landscapes and cuisine, and meet the pandas. 

As people visit each other more, misunderstandings and biases naturally fade away.

A few days ago, I visited Binondo, which has thrived for over 400 years. Although my visit lasted only one morning, I was deeply impressed by how generations of Chinese have prospered in the Philippines-through diligence and wisdom-while contributing to economic and social development and strengthening China–Philippines friendship.

Overseas Chinese, employees of Chinese enterprises, Chinese students, and friends from all walks of life are all envoys of China–Philippines friendship. I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for all that you do.

In the new year, I hope you will continue to serve as bridges-sharing ideas and contributing to the steady growth of our bilateral relations. The doors of the Chinese Embassy are always open, and you are warmly welcome at any time.

The Spring Festival symbolizes reunion, hope, and new beginnings, while the horse represents vigor and determination. In this Year of the Horse, let us take the lead and gallop forward together to put China–Philippines relations firmly back on track.

Finally, I wish all guests and friends a joyful Spring Festival, a prosperous Year of the Horse, and happiness for every family. 

May the friendship between China and the Philippines endure for generations to come.

Thank you. Mabuhay!