(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday welcomed China’s decision to open direct flights between Cebu and Fujian, expressing hope that the development would spur greater interaction between the two countries.
Speaking at the official launch of the Chinatown Revitalization Phase II at the Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, Marcos thanked Chinese Ambassador to Manila Jing Quan for the good news that would strengthen ties between the Philippines and China.
“I hope that it will be the beginning of more interactions and people-to-people exchange between China and the Philippines,” the president said.
Ahead of Marcos’ speech, Jing announced that China has decided to open direct flights between Fujian and Cebu.
The ambassador said Cebu residents requested to open direct flights between Cebu and Fujian "because 90 percent of Filipino-Chinese, they're from Fujian, and Chinese tourists can directly come to Cebu visa-free."
“And then today we got the good news. China has decided that we will open direct flights between Fujian and Cebu,” Jing said.
The Chinese envoy said the first flight would depart on March 29, with two flights each week.
"And if there are more tourists coming, then we will increase more," Jing said.
The ambassador also announced that “because more Chinese tourists are coming back also to Manila,” China has agreed to add two more direct flights between Manila and Fujian.
“At the same time, we also hope to further strengthen our law enforcement cooperation with the Philippine side to jointly fight against crime and to ensure the safety for normal people-to-people exchanges,” he added.
