Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met on Monday a visiting senior Chinese leader at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila.

During her meeting with Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Arroyo said that the Philippines and China have upgraded bilateral relations and strengthened cooperation in economic, trade and other fields through her successful visit to China in early September.

Wu conveyed cordial regards and good wishes from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Arroyo.

Wu said that in recent years, China and the Philippines have kept up regular exchanges of high-level official visits and mutual political confidence are being strengthened on a daily basis.

Wu said that the recent successful visit to China by President Arroyo has enabled Sino-Philippine relations to enter a new era of development.

He said that China highly evaluates its mutually beneficial cooperation with the Philippines and hopes to let such cooperation truly benefit the people of the two countries.

The CPC is also willing to strengthen relations with Philippines' political parties in order to consolidate friendship and push forward development of relations between the two countries.

Wu also expressed appreciation for Philippines' firm commitment to the "One China Policy".
 
Arroyo expressed her gratitude to the aid being provided by China to Philippines' economic development. She said that there exist very good relations between the two governments, as well as between the political parties of the Philippines and CPC.

She said that incessantly pushing forward cooperation in all fields by the Philippines and China conforms to the common interests of both countries, and further strengthening friendly cooperative relations with China is Philippines' traditional policy.

Arroyo also reiterated Philippines' firm commitment to the "One China Policy".

Wu Guanzheng arrived in Manila Sunday for a four-day official visit to the Philippines at the invitation of Philippine House Speaker Jose De Venecia, president of the ruling Lakas Party of the Philippines.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2004)