Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza, accompanied by Consul General Julius Caesar Flores, recently met with Miss Chen Min, Deputy Director General, Administration of Fujian (Xiamen) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Xiamen-FTZ), other FJFTZ-Xiamen officials, and representatives from C&D Logistics, Commercial Chamber of Xiamen-FTZ, and Haicang Bureau of Xiamen-FTZ.

DG Plaza took the opportunity to meet with and present her proposal to the FTZ officials for Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Economic Cooperation between PEZA-Xiamen FTZ.

In her remarks, DG Plaza stressed that the Philippine government is working vigorously to enhance economic cooperation with China as part of its independent foreign policy thrusts under the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. She further proposed a subsequent quadrilateral arrangement to include Russia and Mongolia to which Xiamen FTZ and other Xiamen-based entities play a vital role in the envisioned trade and cooperation. The Philippines aims to open economic partnership with as many countries as possible other than its traditional partners (the US and other western allies).

Xiamen FTZ DDG Chen fully agreed with DG Plaza’s proposal and assured of its full support and cooperation for its immediate implementation. She also agreed to the proposal for the Philippine side to submit a draft MOU to which they will submit a counter proposal.

The Chinese side suggested that the draft MOU should contain specific details including tax holidays, investors’ incentives and the specific products to be covered.

Another fast growing industry in China is e-Commerce which the Chinese side also suggested by part of the proposed MOU. DG Plaza was given a tour of Xiamen FTZ’s e-commerce section that displays international products for sale online.

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