The head of the legislative branch of the Chinese government, Chairman  Wu Bangguo, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National  People’s Congress (NPC), yesterday told visiting Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople that the Philippines can expect the full legislative support of the NPC in all efforts at further strengthening relations between the Philippines and China.

“In my meeting with Chairman Wu, he said that the Philippines can expect the full legislative support of the National People’s Congress for all efforts to strengthen our relations with China.  We both agreed that our relations have been growing steadily in all areas but that there are still many areas of cooperation that we need to explore,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary added that he spoke to Chairman Wu not only as Secretary of Foreign Affairs but also as one who had also headed the legislative branch of government.  Secretary Ople had previously held the post of President of the Philippine Senate.

“Chairman Wu also expressed his full support for the implementation of our agreement for the China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG) to invest and help build Northrail,” the Secretary said.

CNMEG will undertake Section 1 of Phase 1 which will establish commuter train services between Caloocan and Malolos. The service would run on a double-track railway with a total length of 32.2 kilometers and service 6 train stations (Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Malolos) and 1 depot in Valenzuela. Travel time between the end-terminals will take 32 minutes. The service is expected to serve at least 41,186 passengers per day (based on estimates that the system will attract only 25 per cent of the total number of commuters estimated at 164,745 commuting daily in north and south bound directions).

Chairman Wu Bangguo, leader of the Chinese parliament and second in the politburo of the Communist Party of China, will visit Manila on 31 August – 2 September 2003. His official visit to Manila coincides with his participation as outgoing chair of the Assembly of Asian Parliamentarians for Peace. It will be the first visit by Chairman Wu to a foreign country in his new official capacity.

Chairman Wu and Secretary Ople ended their meeting by discussing and acknowledging the strong ties between Philippine and Chinese legislators. END.