In Numbers: Philippines-China relations

From Rappler Newsbreak (Jun 9): In Numbers: Philippines-China relations

Although the two countries have been locked in territorial tug-of-war issues, they have maintained ties. Here's a quick overview of their relationship – as told in figures.




In 2002, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 148, which officially declared June 9 as Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.

This serves as a commemoration of the strong alliance between the two nations and their diplomatic relations established on June 9, 1975, when Chinese Premier Chou En-lai and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Joint Communique that forged “mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level” between the two countries.

 

Arroyo’s proclamation states: “it is thus fitting to designate one day in the year as Philippine-China Friendship Day to celebrate all that both countries enjoy and cherish together especially in the fields of socio-cultural, economic, and educational cooperation.”

 

Although the two countries have been locked in territorial tug-of-war issues, they have maintained relations in the areas of trade and tourism.

 

Here's a quick overview of the relationship of the Philippines and China – as told in figures:

 

Demographics

28,750	Estimated Chinese living in the Philippines as of 2010
12,254	Filipinos living in Mainland China as of 2011
400,000	Estimated Chinese visitors to the Philippines as of 2013
828,300	Filipino visitors to China as of 2010

Diplomatic Relations

1975	Year when diplomatic bilateral relations between the Philippines and China were established
2009	Signing of Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation
7	Number of Philippine foreign service posts in China
24	Pairs of "sister cities" or "sister provinces" between China and the Philippines

Bilateral Agreements

1978	Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement signed
1979	Cultural Cooperation Agreement, Civil Aviation and Transportation Agreement signed
2001	Memorandum of Understanding on Sports Cooperation, Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information Industry, Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Crackdown on Transnational Crimes, Treaty on Extradition, Pact on Cooperation Against Illicit Traffic and Abuse of Narcotic Drugs signed
2002	Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation signed
2005	Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Cooperation, Pact on Cooperation in Youth Affairs signed
2007	Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Cooperation, Memorandum of Understanding on Education Cooperation, Pact on Protection of Cultural Heritage signed
2008	Pact on Sanitary Cooperation signed

State Visits

1975	President Ferdinand Marcos visited China
1981	Premier Zhao Ziyang visited the Philippines
1988	President Corazon Aquino visited China
1990	Premier Li Peng visited the Philippines
1993	President Fidel Ramos visited China
1996	President Jiang Zemin visited the Philippines
1999	Premier Zhu Rongji visited the Philippines
2000	President Joseph Estrada visited China
2001	President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first visited China
2005	President Hu Jintao visited the Philippines
2007	Premier Wen Jiabao visited the Philippines
2011	President Benigno Aquino III visited China

Economy and Trade

$1.27 billion	Development assistance to the Philippines from China from 2002 until 2010
$14.6 billion	Bilateral trade between China and the Philippines as of 2013
$5.7 billion	Philippine exports to China as of 2010
$4.61 billion	Philippine imports from China as of 2010
$2.78 billion	Philippine investments in China as of 2010
$125.41 million	Chinese investments in the Philippines as of 2010

Others

2012	Year when the Chinese New Year was first proclaimed as a special non-working holiday in the Philippines, as per Proclamation No. 295

 

Sources: Philippines-China Relations: Beyond the Territorial Disputes, Official Gazette, Philippine Statistics Authority, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in China, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Philippines

http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/95744-in-numbers-philippines-china-relations