□ Article / Journalist Xiong Yi Tr. by Han Fanglan

Mrs. Olivia V Palala, Consul-General of Consulate General of the Republic of Philippines in Chongqing:The Program of “The Channel to the Southern Areas” Will Enlarge the Cooperative Prospect between Chongqing and the Philippines

□ Article / Journalist Xiong Yi Tr. by Han Fanglan

“The economy and infrastructure construction of Chongqing have been in a rapid development in this three years when I have been working and living in here. This city has been reported being one of the cities with the speediest development in the world,” said by Mrs. Olivia V Palala, Consul-General of Consulate General of the Republic of Philippines in Chongqing.Besides, she thinks that the rapid development of Chongqing represents the spirits of moving forward owning by Chongqing Municipal Government and enterprises in Chongqing.

Impression of Chongqing

According to Mrs. Olivia V Palala, Chongqing has showed the developmental vitality in three years when she has being Consul-General of Consulate General of the Republic of Philippines in Chongqing, besides,Chongqing Municipal Government and enterprises in Chongqing showed the spirits of moving forward in this period also. “It is a favorable signal for Chongqing’s vitality and development, and the spirits of moving forward also can be the courage of striking first and getting initiative,” she said, like the current leading industry, automobile manufacturing, of Chongqing,which is a goal of government and enterprises to achieve by attracting the foreign cooperative partners and developing the assorted logistics chains.

In her words, the remarkable achievements Chongqing gets not only attribute to that it is the only municipality directly under the central government in the western regions of China, the significant strategy support of the West Development, the joint place of connecting“The Belt and Road” and the economic zones of Yangtze River, and it plays a unique and important role in Chinese regional development and the structure of opening to the outside world, but to the personality of people in Chongqing who are hot and enthusiastic,which is helpful to communicate with people in business activities.

“It almost has been for three years when I live in Chongqing where a rapid development has in its economy and infrastructure construction during this period, based on my observation. And it is the one of speediest cities in development in the world according to the news report,” Mrs. Olivia V Palala said. Many programs are in the construction, like Raf fl es Square of Chaotianmen, besides,a number of bridges and expressway networks under construction can be seen everywhere.

The Philippines Wants a Bigger International Market

On July 25, “The Belt and Road” is a cooperative platform for achieving open and inclusive, getting a mutual bene fi t and win-win result; it is the importance and focus for China and the Philippines to co-build “The Belt and Road” in their next cooperation, presented Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, on the press in Manila with Alan Cayetano, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines.

The Philippines was the important point in the ancient Maritime Silk Road. When the Chinese merchant ships started from Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China, the fi rst stop was Lvsong, namely is the Philippines. China and the Philippines are close in geography,in relations and in culture in all ages. No matter from which perspective, the Philippines is an indispensable partner for China to co-build “the Maritime Silk Road in 21th”, according to the historical relations and close cooperation between them. It would not only the new prospect for opening and cooperating between China and the Philippines, but also the persistent motivation for the latter to its development.

She also said, the fields influenced by the proposal of “The Belt and Road” are very extensive, including infrastructure construction,tourism, cultural exchanges and educational plans, in which everyone has the cooperative possibilities under the background of “The Belt and Road”. The main infrastructures of Chongqing include Cuntan Port, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and China Railway Express (Chongqing), which are closely related with“The Belt and Road”. Chongqing becomes China (Chongqing) Pilot Free Trade Zone in April of this year, relying on the advantages of joint transportation combining railway, air and waterway, which will attract many foreign enterprises to trade and invest in Chongqing.In the aspect of nations, there will be many large investments and economic cooperation between China and the Philippines.

The cooperation in tourism between China and the Philippines is booming in recent years. The Philippines opened a direct fl ight from Chongqing to Cebu this year to satisfy the eagerness of people in Chongqing for having a vacation in the tropical islands. The consulgeneral said, “Although there is a distance between the Philippines and the other destinations of tropical tourism in Southeast Asia,I believe that the momentum of our tourism is increasing and will keep in the next few years”.

Besides, it is also in her observation that Chongqing is building the main platforms, including e-commerce, online and crossborder fi nancial settlement, and cloud computing and other internet industries. The Philippines is the biggest commercial outsourcing center, and an English-speaking country, many background operation and technical support can be qualified. “In my opinion,the Philippines can be a good partner to China in this fi eld,” said by Mrs. Olivia V Palala.

On September 25, it held the starting ceremony of the program,at the railway port of Chongqing, between China and Singapore of Transportation to Singapore and ASEAN countries through Chongqing, Guizhou Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (also called The Channel to the Southern Areas), which remarks that this transportation channel is in a normal situation from the pilot period. Sea-railway combined transportation is an important part for this program, mainly starting from the railway port of Chongqing by taking advantage of railway transportation,reaching ports of Singapore and ASEAN countries by ocean freight through Qinzhou Port of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and connecting the international maritime transportation net. It takes 7~10 days from Chongqing to the main ports of ASEAN countries by this transportation way.

She thinks that this program is in accordance with the developmental goals of ASEAN countries, and is helpful to them to be a more integrated economic community. This transportation channel will be a more efficient way to transport, with a more integrated trade block ASEAN will be, and promote the trade and communication between ASEAN and Europe. “The Philippines should take advantage of geography and touch this large but relatively unopened market”. She is con fi dent with this.

(All pictures reserved to the Consul-General of Consulate General of the Republic of Philippines in Chongqing. Authorized use only)