President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his gratitude anew to the Chinese government which helped in funding the newly-inaugurated Binondo-Intramuros bridge on Tuesday.
”I thank and with gratitude the People’s Republic of China for the confidence and for being a partner in enhancing key infrastructure projects in our country,” Duterte said in his speech.
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The President highlighted that despite the differences between the two countries on the issues in the West Philippine Sea with Beijing, the two countries have no quarrel.
“Ambassador Huang, the Philippines and China, we do not have any quarrel. And we can talk about the Spratly Islands and probably the fishing rights of my countrymen — plain talk, nothing else,” he added.
The four-lane bridge crossing the Pasig River in the City of Manila is fully-funded through China-grant.
“The Friendship Bridge is one of the first of the two China-donated Bridges under President Duterte’s administration and also a flagship project of the “Build, Build, Build” Program,” Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said.
Ambassador Huang adds that the project generated more than 300 local jobs and provided technical training for over 2,000 Filipino workers, including metal workers, welders, machine crew, and painters.
