Beijing, China
11 November 2014
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his optimism that his attendance in the recently concluded 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing has yielded positive results, especially in starting a new dialogue between China and Philippines concerning the disputed West Philippine Sea.
In an interview with the Philippine media at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, President Aquino revealed the exchanges he and President Xi Jinping had in a pull-aside meeting as APEC leaders walk to the venue of the next function meeting right after the tree-planting ceremony.
President Aquino also read an excerpt of President Xi Jinping‘s English-translated press release about their quiet meeting, it reads that “he (President Jinping) hopes that the Philippines side could return to the basis of the previous consensus and go in the same direction as China to deal with the relevant issues in a constructive way and to create conditions for the healthy development of China-Philippines relations”.
President Aquino, likewise, affirmed to echo the same views as with President Xi Jinping in handling the issues constructively with China, especially if it concerns improving the lots in life of the Filipino people. Adding that this is the first direct contact he had with the Chinese government since the time he visited China in 2011 who was then under the leadership of former President Hu Jintao.
The President also shared several gains and opportunities that opened up for the country in the APEC Summit, on top of the bilateral meetings which he had with several APEC Leaders. He cited Papua New Guineas’ interest to strengthen trade relations and people-to-people exchanges with the Philippines. Other APEC Leaders have also expressed their support and commitment to the Philippines’ APEC Chairmanship in 2015.
With the successful conclusion of the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that lasted for three-days, President Aquino heads to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar onboard a chartered flight to attend the 25th Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.