News and Events

PH, China to seek cooperation in science and technology

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The Department of Science and Technology met with Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation Inc. to learn about the Philippines’ bilateral relations with China and the latter’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The DOST is currently identifying priority areas where the two countries can work together and mutually benefit. Aside from technology and practices, they are also exploring possible scholarships in China.

With the recent direction of the Duterte administration, cooperation seems to take its fresh start after hiatus since 2004. The PH-China Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology is planned to reconvene later this year. 

China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Why it matters for Philippines-China Infrastructure Cooperation

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In the afternoon of July 11, 2017, APPFI organized a roundtable on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and how it may impact on Philippines-China infrastructure cooperation. BRI, formerly called the One Belt One Road (OBOR) is a new platform for Chinese foreign policy that was first announced in 2013 but seemingly re-launched at the highest levels last May 14, during the BRI Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing.

The two main speakers at the roundtable were APPFI President Aileen Baviera and former NEDA Director General Cielito Habito. Twenty-nine participants representing eleven institutions were present at the forum, which was co-organized with and held at the Astoria Plaza in Pasig.

APPFI Trustee presented lectures on ASEAN-China Relations

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In this photo: Ambassador Fu Ying, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, with Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana(left) and former Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to ASEAN Wilfrido Villacorta (right).

Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta, former Ambassador to ASEAN, was a speaker in two panels of the 6th World Peace Forum held at Tsinghua University on 24-25 June, 2017 in Beijing. The panels were on South China Sea: How to Avoid Escalation of Conflicts, and on China and ASEAN: How to Enhance Mutual Trust.

The Role of Think Tanks, Regional and Global Security discussed at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation

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The APPFI was invited by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges to participate in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held last May 14 in Beijing. Xi Jinping delivered a major foreign policy address during the Opening Ceremony, centering on the significance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Other important guests who delivered remarks included Vladimir Putin of Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Alexis Tsipras of Greece, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Christine Lagarde of IMF, among many others.

The official Philippine delegation was led by Pres Rodrigo Duterte and consisted of several Cabinet members and Undersecretaries. The Philippine contingent was also in Beijing to deliver presentations on the administration’s “Dutertenomics” program.