MANILA, Philippines - The Chinese government wants to encourage investments and

attract more tourists to come to the Philippines, even as both countries are involved in a
territorial dispute.
I should point out that Chinas investments to the Philippines have not been satisfactory so
we hope that we can invest more, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said at a welcome
dinner hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Tuesday.
Investment opportunities are seen in the areas of infrastructure, energy and manufacturing.
Given extensive experience of Chinese companies in the area of infrastructure, Zhao said
there is interest in projects in the Philippines.
Zhao said he wants to encourage investments in energy projects as well, to help bring down
the countrys power costs, considered to be the highest in the Southeast Asian region.
Manufacturing is another potential area for investments here, as many Chinese firms
engaged in labor intensive industries are looking to transfer to other countries in Asia and
Africa in a bid to address energy supply shortage and environmental issues.
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There is good opportunity for Philippine side to receive some of good quality manufacturing
investments, say food processing, manufacturing of minerals. These are the things we can
do in the near future, Zhao said.
Youll be surprised that the Philippines is investing more in China than what China is
investing in the Philippines, he said.
He said China would also like to see more Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines.
In 2013, 426,000 Chinese tourists came to the Philippines, a 70-percent increase from
2012.
Despite the jump in the number of Chinese travelers to the Philippines, Zhao said the figure
is still small compared to Malaysia and Thailands respective tally of four million and three
million.

Imagine if you can attract one million tourists. That will boost the tourism industry in the
Philippines. We are glad that despite the difficulties we are having, Chinese tourists are still
attracted by the beautiful sceneries or people here... we hope this will grow this year, he
added.
As of end-April, data from the Department of Tourism showed China was the third largest
source of tourists in the country, accounting for a 9.91 percent share or 168,155.
Philippine business groups said it is in their interest to continue to strengthen trade ties
between the two countries.
We see China as a huge market to tap and explore. The Philippines, being a party to the
ASEAN, must take advantage of the benefits offered under the ASEAN-China Free Trade
Agreement, Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc. president
Roberto Amores said at the same event.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed China was the top source of Philippine
imports, accounting for a 13.01 percent share, amounting to $8.027 billion last year, higher
than the $6.680 billion in 2012.
For the same year, China was the third biggest destination of Philippine exports with a
12.19 percent share valued at $6.583 billion, also up from $6.169 billion in 2012.
In the same gathering, PCCI president Alfredo Yao said they are also doing their part to
further improve the two countries trade and economic relations.
Through our Memorandum of Agreements with various Chinese Chambers and Councils
like Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangxi, Chongqing, among others...
we will take all the opportunities to promote, strengthen and expand trade, economic,
scientific, technological cooperation and other business relations between our two
countries, Yao said.
Despite the territorial conflict, Zhao said the two countries should continue to work together
to enhance economic ties.
I think it is imperative and essential that the two countries focus on things that can unite us,
focus on things that can promote common prosperity for both countries and can contribute
to improvement of the livelihood of our people, he said.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have risen amid overlapping claims in the
South China Sea.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/07/03/1341872/china-wants-moreinvestments-phl#ixzz3Ti3PrKHT

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Philippines immigration figures reveal huge Chinese

population
January 12 2011 by Jay

Philippines Visa | Chinese Immigration

Chinese immigration contributes to the majority of foreigners living in the Philippines, according
to the countrys Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The recently-released figures show Chinese immigration to the Philippines doubled in 2010, reaching
61,372, compared with 30,809 in 2009.
According to BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma, the increase in immigration to the Philippines reflects
improved relations between the two countries.
Other notable figures include:
USA immigration accounting for 24,909 people in the Philippines.
Indian immigration making up 23,317.
Immigration UK accounting for 4,781.
Immigration Australia contributing 2,645 people.
In total there are 90,413 foreigners with the immigrant category of Philippines visa, and 98,733 with a
non-immigrant Philippine visa.
The figures mark a 50 per cent increase in the number of foreigners in the Philippines since 2007 an
achievement attributed to aggressive marketing strategies promoting the Philippines as a destination for
tourism, investment and retirement.