The friendship between Taiwanese and Filipinos is a “shining example” of people coexisting peacefully in a world fraught with war and strife, Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chairman Silvestre Bello III said on Monday.
Bello made the remarks during an event marking the 125th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence from Spain.
Despite their different histories, Taiwan and the Philippines have become increasingly intertwined, Bello told a banquet in Taipei to celebrate Philippine National Day.
Photo: CNA
Philippine investments in Taiwan increased in the 1960s, with many buildings being constructed by Filipino-Chinese business owners at a time when Taiwan was struggling to develop its economy, Bello said.
Bilateral trade has since flourished and Taiwan is now the Philippines’ eighth-largest trade partner, he added.
There are about 180,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, many of whom work in factories assembling semiconductors, Bello said.
“We are proud to point out that our Filipino workers are performing vital functions in your factories,” he said.
“There are many other aspects of the close cooperation and friendship,” Bello said.
Bello proposed a toast to the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence, and the friendship between the Philippines and Taiwan.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Lee (李淳) highlighted increasing bilateral trade and frequent people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, saying that they are “next-door neighbors” and “friends with closely aligned values.”
Bilateral trade reached US$10.7 billion last year, an 18 percent increase from the previous year, Lee said.
Taiwan was the Philippines’ 10th-largest source of foreign direct investment last year.
At least 90,000 Filipinos have visited Taiwan so far this year, while 50,000 Taiwanese have visited the Philippines, Lee said.
“Our friendship has remained strong and unwavering for decades, and our ties are rooted in deep people-to-people connections, which have contributed to this robust and mutually beneficial partnership across a full spectrum of interests,” Lee said.
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