First of two parts
QUESTION (Q): This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. How would you evaluate the development of bilateral ties over the past five decades? Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for this relationship in the next 50 years?
Huang Xilian (HX): China and the Philippines are neighbors joined by the sea. Our people have been friends with one another for over a millennium. The diplomatic relations, as you said, were established 50 years ago as a historic decision by the elder generation of leaders from the two countries.
This bold move, in defiance of its Cold War background, certainly was a new page in China-Philippines relations, turned with exceptional strategic vision and political courage. We have today witnessed, as a result, unprecedented win-win cooperation and people-to-people exchanges across various fields despite ups and downs in our relationship, bringing real and immense benefit to our peoples.
Confucius once said that a man understands his mandate of Heaven at age 50. For bilateral relations between countries, this coming of age means understanding the mandate of the people. For us as neighbors, the friendship between us is in the fundamental interest of our peoples and embodies the shared aspirations of the vast majority in both countries.
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It is well noted that some politicians attempted to play the “China card” or exploit China-related issues for personal political agenda but lost their bid. Those who believe in and advocate for friendly cooperation with China and managing differences through dialogue and consultation won wide public support. Such is the choice of the people — a voice that must not be ignored. To understand such a mandate of Heaven is to heed the voice of the people and go with it.
After half a century, turmoil combined with transformations has once again become the theme of our world. Likewise, China-Philippines relations are at a key juncture. Whither our relations? Many people are soul-searching. Among them, a long participant in, and witness to China-Philippines relations, the former first lady Imelda Marcos. In May last year, she attended a reception at the Chinese Embassy commemorating the 50th anniversary of her first visit to China. The former first lady repeatedly said “friendship for peace” as she greeted and bid farewell to me and other guests of the two countries.
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All in all, the 50th anniversary is a crucially important occasion for us to reflect on the original aspiration that brought us together, to draw wisdom and strength from our shared history, and listen to the voices of our peoples. For the next 50 years in our relations, together, we need to overcome distractions, stay committed to the right course in our bilateral relationship, and work to return China-Philippines relations to a sound and stable track, one that will better serve the well-being of our combined 1.5 billion people.
Q: You have emphasized on different occasions the importance of listening to the voice of the people when we handle China-Philippines relations. Can you please elaborate on the idea “It’s the people, always”?
HX: When we say that China and the Philippines are neighbors, we’re referring not only to geographic proximity but also to the maritime routes that have long connected our two peoples. These bustling sea lanes — traveled by ships, merchants and envoys — have linked our peoples not just for decades or centuries, but for over a thousand years. In the Ming dynasty, over 600 years ago, China’s renowned navigator, Zheng He, undertook seven major voyages, visiting the Manila Bay, the Visayas and Sulu multiple times, spreading messages of friendship and cooperation. In turn, the East King of Sulu, bearing the goodwill of his people, embarked on a reciprocal visit of friendship to China, giving rise to many well-known and cherished stories that are told to this day.
For generations, people from China’s southeastern coastal regions have crossed the seas to settle in this land of pleasant climate, where they lived in harmony and pursued development alongside local communities. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of this archipelago, they made great sacrifices in the struggle for national independence and liberation, and played an important role in the country’s economic and social development. These contributions and sacrifices deserve full recognition and deep appreciation.
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The national hero and founding father of the Philippines, José Rizal, had ancestral roots in Jinjiang in China’s Fujian province. Likewise, Ye Fei, a founding general of the People’s Republic of China, was born in Quezon province. Both are testaments to this deep-rooted history and remain a shared source of pride for the peoples of our two countries.
Looking back on the past 50 years of China-Philippines relations, people-to-people exchanges have remained resilient despite various twists and turns. The enduring friendship between our peoples reflects a collective will — something that cannot be reversed by any external force.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, individuals from all walks of life in the Philippines have spontaneously organized a wide range of people-to-people and cultural activities, including performances, youth exchanges, photo exhibitions, a commemorative logo design contest, a short video competition, and the publication of special journal editions.
The Philippine Embassy in China has also hosted a variety of celebrations in Beijing, featuring music, cuisine, traditional martial arts, and introduction of books that share the stories of Filipino people living and building businesses in China. These events were warmly welcomed by the Chinese public.
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Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, in collaboration with local friendship associations and the Chinese-Filipino community, launched several initiatives, such as the “Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding” to honor 12 Filipinos who have made outstanding contributions to the development of bilateral relations, and the “Chinese Cultural Courier@the Philippines” to highlight the deep bonds between our peoples.
Through these commemorative events, we have felt the genuine goodwill and expectations of our peoples for a lasting friendship. We have also gained a deeper understanding of how people-to-people exchanges form the bedrock of China-Philippines relations. Indeed, it’s always the people that are the defining essence of our relations: the foundation is laid by our peoples, the story is written by our peoples, and the future will undoubtedly be created by our peoples — together.
To be concluded on June 17, 2025
