President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD/FILE PHOTO
China is the Philippines’ friend and partner, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said during the handover ceremony of heavy equipment to Marawi City on Tuesday.
“I am fully confident that under the wise leadership of President (Rodrigo) Duterte, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Marawi City will be a complete success,” Jianhua said in his speech during the handover ceremony of heavy equipment to Marawi City on Tuesday.
“In this important reconstruction process, you will have a friend and partner. And this friend and partner is China,” he added.
The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said the P155-million worth of heavy equipment donated by the Chinese government for rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City had already arrived in Iligan City.
“China was among the first countries to offer its assistance in rehabilitating Marawi City, a gesture that further cements our strong bilateral relations and reflects the warm friendship between our two countries,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a statement.
READ: Equipment donation from China for Marawi now in Iligan Port
Jianhua said he was also glad that China was among the first countries to extend help in the Marawi rehabilitation.
“There is a Chinese saying, that is, when you want to do something good, then do it timely. These equipment arrived just at the time when the reconstruction of Marawi City is about to begin. The donation is timely and they are going to put to use immediately,” he said.
The ambassador also lauded the government’s “quick planning” on the recovery of the southern island city.
“I have noticed that the Philippine government has been quick in planning the rebuilding and recovery of Marawi City,” Jianhua said.
“A new Marawi City of this kind rises from ashes and ruins will surely have great and positive impact on the future of Mindanao,” he added.
Marawi City was earlier declared free from Islamic State-linked Maute terrorists after the siege that devastated it since May 23 finally ended. /jpv
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