MANILA: Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing said her stint in the country has not always been “rosy,” and that bilateral relations between the Philippines and China have been “bumpy” with twists and turns due to a territorial dispute.
Speaking at a farewell reception at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati on Thursday night, Ma said she came to the Philippines full of enthusiasm, although with little knowledge of the country, but that the last two years have taught her a lot.
“All sorts of feelings well up in my heart,” she said. “However, my time in the Philippines has not always been rosy. Our bilateral relations have been bumpy with twists and turns because of the reasons known to all.”
Ma said her last two years had been the most challenging as they were exciting and rewarding and had enriched her experiences and made her diplomatic career more colourful.
“While tackling the difficult issues, I have tried to reach out and communicate in every possible way, in an aim of protecting our relations from being further damaged,” she said.
“There are so many memories, good and mixed, all of which I cherish very much.”
Ma said despite the territorial dispute, a steady increase in bilateral trade and investment, growth in two-way tourism and active people-to-people exchange had taken place.
Highlights were a trip by former basketball star Yao Ming to Manila and an interchange between think tanks, she added.
Ma said economic necessity also gave impetus to Philippines-China relations, with the region experiencing an unprecedented dynamic economic growth.
“We should work together to seize the rare opportunities to benefit our countries and our people,” she said.
The Philippine star
