China seeks more exports from Philippines

MANILA � China�s top envoy to the Philippines on Thursday called for more exports from its new ally to address a trade imbalance.

China was the Philippines top source of imports, with $1.61 billion in shipments last January, compared to $592 million in exports during the same period.

Beijing is �proud to be the number one trading partner� of Manila and growing trade is one of the �great achievements� of President Rodrigo Duterte�s visit to China, Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said.

�You can never satisfy China market demand. Whatever you can export to China � that can only be considered a bucket in the ocean,� Zhao said.

China will �further open� its economy to the rest of the world, Zhao said, adding, �We are going to prosper together with all our trading partners including the Philippines.�

Duterte sought to repair ties between Manila and Beijing that were strained by disputes in the South China Sea.

He visited China in 2016, prompting the removal of a ban in Philippine banana exports and the lifting of a travel advisory that boosted Chinese tourist arrivals.

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