DAYS after China's lifting of its two-year-old travel advisory warning to its citizens to visit the Philippines, the country has welcomed a proposal to build another consulate in Davao City to strengthen our century-old relationship.
The consulate would be put up in the city in a bid to increase tourist arrivals from China.
In a joint statement released Friday, October 21, it stated that the Philippines positively responded to the creation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) consulate in Davao City.
"The Philippines welcomes China's proposal to open a Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao in due course. Proper arrangements for the diplomatic premises in both countries will be made in the spirit of the 1975 Joint Communiqué, on the basis of international practice and reciprocity, with priority for the most immediate concerns," the statement said.
According to Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) President Bonifacio Tan, a Filipino-Chinese, the announcement will be a good opportunity for the Chinese nationals to have expeditious transaction when travelling in the Philippines then back to their country.
"Businessmen and tourists wishing to visit China will have easier [access] to secure their visa, " Tan told VoxPop Davao.
With this office, it will accelerate the processing of passport and visa.
To date, if passport is issued in Davao City, the applicant needs to apply the visa processing through the Chinese Consulate in Cebu where Davao is part of its consular districts.
The four-day state visit to China of President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, ended Friday, October 21, which yielded a fruitful meeting in an amicable and friendly atmosphere and conducted in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of shared interest.