China’s new ambassador arrives

December 3, 2019

China's new envoy to the Philippines said '' the best is yet to come'' as he arrived past midnight on Tuesday.

Huang Xilian, an expert in Asian affairs, replaced Zhao Jianhua, who ended his five-year tour of duty in October.

Huang is fluent in Fookien, which is commonly spoken by Filipino-Chinese in the country.

"It is a great honor to be designated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of the Philippines. I feel back at home the moment I set foot in the Philippines," the 52-year-old envoy said.

"Since I was a little child, my families have kept telling me that the Philippines which faces China across the sea is our relative with close kinship and cultural bond," he said.

"Therefore, the natural affinity with the Philippines has grown in my heart."

Huang’s appointment came as relations between the Philippines and China are improving after years of animosity and tensions due to competing claims in South China Sea.

Unlike former President Benigno Aquino III, who initiated an international arbitration case that nullified China's claim in 2016, Duterte sought friendly ties with Beijing in exchange for economic assistance, and normalization of ties, trade and investments.

While the Philippines and China boasted of good overall relations under the Duterte administration, tensions have lingered in the South China Sea due their overlapping claims and Beijing's aggressive move to assert control over the resource-rich waters.

Huang said good relations between the two countries in recent years have been generating "more and more tangible benefits for the people, and brought about a closer China-Philippines community of shared future."

"Good neighbors are a blessing. China and the Philippines enjoy a time honored friendship deeply rooted among the two peoples," he said.

"Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President (Rodrigo) Duterte, China-Philippines relations have gone through a trilogy of turn-around, consolidation and elevation in the past three years, ushering in a fresh Golden Age for the two countries."

China, he pointed out, is also the Philippines’ top trading partner, the largest source of imports, the third largest export market and the second largest tourist origin.

Huang's previous diplomatic assignments included Indonesia, where he was China's Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations before his Manila posting, the United States, India, Pakistan and Brunei. DMS