According to Zhao Jianhua, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, China is considering to build an industrial park in the Philippines in order to boost the local employment and manufacturing sector of the country.
Zhao said during an investment forum: "In the Asean, we have already built eight Industrial parks but we haven’t built any in the Philippines yet. We will work with Philippine authorities and explore the possibility of setting up an industrial park here. This is to help boost the local manufacturing sector and create more jobs."
China's interest in building an industrial park in the Philippines is to improve China-PH ties under the Duterte administration.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is pursuing a softer approach when it comes to resolving territorial disputes, which previously strained the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Francis T. Chua, the chair emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel Corp., had expressed interest in this Chinese investment in PH.
Chua said that investors could choose if they want to set up the park in the north or in the south, citing a source from the Department of Trade and Industry.
Ang is part of the business delegation that accompanied Duterte in his visit to China. He has not yet responded to confirm his partnership with the Philippine government for China's plan on building the industrial park.
Zhong Shan, the new commerce minister of China, will visit the Philippines by invitation from Jose Sta. Romana, the Philippines' ambassador to China.
Romana said: "The new commerce minister will come and the talks would proceed on the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation."
Liu Yandong, Chinese Vice Premier, will visit the Philippines next month, following the visit of Zhong Shan.
“The Chinese vice premier would come in Mid-March. The President (Duterte), I think, is invited to go to China for the One Belt One Road in May,” Romana added.