L-R (first row): Xiamen Philippine Consul General Corazon Bahjin, Shanghai Philippine Consul General Jesus Yabes, Asian and Pacific Affairs Assitant Secretary Alicia Ramos of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to China Willy Gaa, Hong Kong SAR Philippine Consul General Corazon Jover, and Guangzhou Philippine Consul General Erlinda Gavino. L-R (second row): Third Secretary Charlotte Tang (Beijing), Third Secretary Elizabeth Te (Beijing), Consul Theresa Dizon-de Vega (Hong Kong SAR), DTI Trade Assistant Carmela Panes (Hong Kong SAR), Tourism Attaché Teresita Mauricio (Hong Kong SAR), Trade Attaché Jorge Judan (Beijing), Defense Attaché Col. Samuel Narbuada (Beijing), Tourism Attaché Jazmin Esguerra, Trade Attaché Archimedes Gomez (Guangzhou), First Secretary Jaime Ledda (Beijing), Third Secretary Jim San Agustin (Beijing) and Vice Consul Aileen Mendiola (Shanghai). This photo was taken on 23 July 2004 after the Third Consultations among Foreign Service Posts in China at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

Philippine posts in China to align programs with PGMA's 10-point agenda

(Beijing, 24 July 2004). Philippine foreign service posts in China agreed yesterday to vigorously promote tourism and trade with China, attract investments to the Philippines, and continue to protect and enhance the welfare of Filipinos in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The commitment was made after a two-day consultation among the heads of Foreign Service Posts in China from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Hong Kong SAR. Tourism Secretary Roberto M. Pagdanganan and DFA Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Alicia C. Ramos were present to provide guidance to the Posts. Service Attaches representing the Departments of National Defense, Trade, Tourism, Labor, and Agriculture contributed actively in the discussions.

The consultation, the third among Philippine missions in China, was called by Philippine Ambassador to China Willy C. Gaa to assess the current state of RP-China relations, establish priorities and future areas of bilateral cooperation, and align the plans and programs of the Posts with the 10-point agenda of President Arroyo.

Secretary Pagdanganan, who was in Beijing to inaugurate the Office of the Philippine Tourism Attache in China, emphasized the importance of tourism in poverty alleviation and job creation. “One tourist arrival creates one job,” he said. He noted that in 2003, only one in every 600 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines. This is in sharp contrast to Japan and South Korea which were the source of more than 600,000 tourists to the Philippines last year. He said that DOT will be undertaking a more coordinated and focused promotion of the Philippines in China to double the number of Chinese tourist arrivals by the end of the year.

In addition to tourism, the meeting also noted that while bilateral trade with China has been increasing with trade balance in favor of the Philippines, there is a need to continue promotion of Philippine products and services. Mentioned were electronics and semiconductor products/devices, fresh fruits, aquatic and marine products, resource-based products, high-end jewelry, furniture, professional services, medical tourism and logistics management. The meeting also agreed to enhance efforts to attract Chinese investments to the Philippines, especially in areas related to infrastructure.

The heads of the Philippine posts in China also discussed ways to better resolve consular and labor issues affecting Filipinos and provide more effective service to Philippine nationals in China and HKSAR.

The consultations reviewed the complete range of the Posts’ work in China and the Philippines’ relations with China.

Philippine Consuls General in China are Jesus I. Yabes (Shanghai PCG), Corazon Belmonte-Jover (Hong Kong SAR PCG), Corazon Yap-Bahjin (Xiamen PCG) and Erlinda Gavino (Guangzhou PCG).

The next consultations will take place in Xiamen in 2005.

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