China is looking to encourage more Chinese companies to make the Philippines their “first investment destination” as it moves toward its new goal of “Chinese modernization” and boosting partnerships with neighboring countries.

During Tuesday’s ‘Pandesal Forum’ at the Kamuning Bakery Café, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said his country’s new modernization efforts would have a “far-reaching implication” for the Philippines.

“In the future, we will focus on the new development pattern of dual circulation, continue to open up the country, boost trade, and encourage more Chinese companies to make the Philippines their first investment destination,” he said.

Philippine companies, he said, are also welcome to tap China as a “global supermarket”.

“In exploring the path of modernization, China and the Philippines will go hand in hand and benefit from each other,” he said.

China is also looking to boost “inclusive development” to promote cooperation and improve the quality of life in both countries.

“We should earnestly implement the spirit of the consensus reached by the two heads of state and further promote cooperation in the four key areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and humanities so that the dividends of development can continuously enhance the sense of gain, happiness, and security of the two peoples,” he said.

China’s development, he said, would be peaceful and would promote joint efforts from the two countries to maintain peace and stability in the region.

“China and the Philippines are good neighbors, good relatives, and good partners, and traditional friendship has a long history,” he said.

On territorial disputes, he said these differences between neighboring countries are “normal” but must not affect or “sabotage” their overall relations.

“What China brings to the Philippines is not colonization and war, but cooperation and friendship,” he said.

Huang also said the recently concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) highlighted Beijing’s “second centenary goal” of building a “great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.”

“The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC outlines a two-stage general strategic arrangement: to realize socialist modernization in the first stage from 2020 to 2035 and then develop China into a ‘great modern socialist country’ that is ‘prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful’ after another 15 years,” he said.

The event was held from October 16 to 22 in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping was re-elected for a third term as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. (PNA)