DAVAO CITY—The Communist Party of China has donated $600,000 (P30 million) worth of funding for infrastructure and equipment to the city government during the visit of the diplomat Song Tao, minister of China’s International Department, here on Tuesday.
The Chinese are granting $400,000 (about P20 million) to Bolton Elementary School for the construction of a school building, and $200,000 (P10 million) to Davao for water pumping stations in three different barangays in the city, Song said.
Song’s visit to Davao is his first under the administration of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. He was China’s former ambassador to the Philippines.
Song said through the years, Davao City has become one of the most important places for the economy in the country.
He said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s successful visit to China last year “paved the way for a better relationship between the Philippines and China.”
Duterte and Chinese resident Xi JinPing “have reached important discussions” about the cooperation of the two countries in different aspects including the economic state of the Philippinesm he added.
“Our coming visit to the Republic of the Philippines, including Davao City, is to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state, to strengthen our outstanding political mutual trust and cooperation, to deliver tangible benefits for the two countries,” Song said.
“We come here for friendship and cooperation in various fields through inter-political party exchanges,” he added.
On Monday, Song and PDP-Laban President Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchanges and cooperation of the two political parties.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez thanked the Chinese delegation for visiting the city and their “overwhelming assistance” to the people of Davao.
“Davao City thanks you in advance for the planned grant to the city in the form of $600,000 worth of planned projects,” she said.
Lopez said the generosity of the Chinese government “is a step towards the realization of the current administration’s thrust,” which is education and the provision of basic needs for every Davaoeá¹…o.
Last October, a delegation from the city led by Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte visited Shanghai to discuss possible investments and bilateral cooperation of the two cities.