Members of the Filipino-Chinese business community again urged the Philippines to be more open to Chinese tourists by allowing them to enter the country without a visa. 

“Sana wala nang visa kasi in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, sa Chinese tourist coming over. Hindi na kailangan ng visa for at least a week of two, para magkaroon ng tayo maraming turista,” said Dr. Cecilio Pedro, President of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc (FFCCCII).

(“We hope to open up our visa policy. In Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, Chinese tourists no longer need a visa for at least a week or two, which allows for more tourists to visit.)

The FFCCCII also highlighted the potential of the business potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China, also known as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to benefit the Philippine economy.

“Marami tayong competitors dito sa Southeast Asia, ang mga investments ay kailangang pumunta rito. This is an opportunity because China is also slowing down. Alam niyo, maraming western companies are getting out of China, so this is a golden opportunity for them to come in and set up their business or their factories here in the Philippines and export to the rest of the world,” Pedro said during the sidelines of the Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations: Exploring the Opportunities with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau in Pasay City.

(We have many competitors here in Southeast Asia, and investments need to come to our country. This is an opportunity because China is also slowing down. Many Western companies are exiting China, so this is a golden opportunity for them to come to the Philippines, set up their businesses or factories, and export to the rest of the world.)

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, who also attended the forum, highlighted the economic scale of the GBA.

“In 2023, the Greater Bay Area was further positioned as a strategic pivot in the new development pattern, a demonstration zone for high-quality development, and a leading area for Chinese modernization. Over the past year, the Greater Bay Area’s economic output exceeded 14 trillion yuan. Despite occupying only 0.6 percent of China’s land area, the GBA generated one-ninth of our economic output. It has surpassed the New York and San Francisco Bay Areas, positioning itself as one of the world’s four leading Bay Areas in terms of economic output, proving to be a highly promising growth pole in the global economy,” he said. 

The ambassador added that the Greater Bay Area has the potential to significantly boost regional economic development. 

In 2022, trade between the Greater Bay Area and ASEAN countries reached $1.4 trillion, accounting for 22.6 percent of the GBA’s total foreign trade.

“In 2023, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN continued to grow and reached 6.41 trillion yuan, with ASEAN remaining China’s number one trading partner for the fourth consecutive year. ASEAN countries have also fully benefited from the cooperation. For example, last year, China-Vietnam bilateral trade reached 229.8 billion U.S. dollars, with Vietnam’s exports to China increased by 4.8  percent,” said Huang Xilian.

Evariste Cagatan, Executive Director of Investment Promotions Services under the Philippine Board of Investments of the Department of Trade and Industry, noted that the Philippines also has much to offer to China’s GBA.

 “Marami tayong puwedeng makitang complementarities between the GBA competencies as well as our industries. Filipinos can go there but the Chinese investors from the GBA can really come to the Philippines and work together with our local industries,” said Cagatan. 

(“There are many complementarities between the GBA’s competencies and our industries.”) 

This collaboration could include the exchange of knowledge in new technologies. 

“They are very hi-tech, and we are actually positioning the Philippines to be the regional hub for smart and technology-driven manufacturing and services, so we also want to go hi-tech, the complementarity is there. Siyempre, if they have that technology, we also have that, we can work together, said Cagatan. 

Aside from the Philippines' highly skilled workforce, the country’s free trade agreements (FTAs) with various countries could greatly benefit the GBA. 

“We are offering them access to the domestic market as well as key markets where we have FTAs,” Cagatan said. 

These include FTAs with ASEAN, RCEP, South Korea, and many other countries.

“We are truly making ourselves compelling by providing access to key markets. The local industries' competencies are strong in electronics and IT, and we are also making a mark in renewable energy. We can attract more from the GBA if they know what we have and what we can offer,” Cagatan added. 

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