On 26 July 2024, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) attended the dinner organized by the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in the Philippines in celebration of the 97th Founding Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The festivity, attended by over 400 people, was held successfully at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. On behalf of CFBCI, President Emeritus Alejandro Co, Honorary Vice President Antonio Hilario, Vice President Paul Yeung, Vice President Willy Chuakimtong, and Corporate Secretary Henry Go attended the event.

The dinner was graced with the attendance of Huang Xilian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines, Li Jianzhong, Defense Attaché of the People’s Republic of China, and other dignitaries from the government, military, major Chinese community groups, and media.

Ambassador Huang Xilian said in his speech that China has always been a firm force for world peace. This has been demonstrated once again by China’s recent initiative calling on nuclear-weapon states to pursue a no-first-use policy or to declare no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other. A few days ago, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) declared an agenda to further promote mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

“As China and the Philippines have been friends for thousands of years, we cannot allow maritime differences to define or even hamper China-Philippines relations. China has always been committed to peacefully managing differences through diplomacy and consultation,” the Ambassador said. Moreover, Military Attaché Colonel Li Jianzhong explained China’s national defense policy, introduced the achievements of national defense and military reforms, and narrated the history of Sino-Filipino military exchanges.

Overall, the dinner paved the way for enhanced camaraderie and deeper understanding of the present and future workings of the People’s Liberation Army. Long live and greater prosperity!

菲華工商總會訊：本會副理事長楊良田、蔡金東，榮譽理事長許長安，名譽副理事長許文忠，立案秘書吳恆利，於七月廿六日（星期五）下午七時，代表本會出席中國駐菲律濱大使館假達義市博尼法西奧環球城香格里拉大酒店，舉辦慶祝中國人民解放軍建軍九十七週年招待會。中國駐菲律濱特命全權大使黃溪連、國防武官李建中，菲參謀長埃斯庫德羅、外交部副部長德維加、菲軍副總參謀長巴蘭東、總統中國事務特使顏傑奇、司法部副部長卡蒂茲、國警監察長杜萊、卡加延省省長曼巴、菲國軍政高層、各國駐菲武官、中資企業代表、華社主要團體負責人，及媒體人員等四百餘人齊聚一堂，歡慶八一建軍節，場面盛大而熱鬧。

黃溪連大使致詞時說，中國始終是維護世界和平的堅定力量。最近，中國提出倡議，呼籲核武器國家奉行不首先使用核武器的政策，或相互宣佈不首先使用核武器，再次證明這一點。日前，中國共產黨第二十屆三中全會就進一步全面深化改革、推進中國式現代化作出總體部署，將向世界釋放更多紅利，促進互利合作與共同繁榮。中菲千年友好，不能讓海上分歧定義甚至綁架中菲關係。中方始終致力於通過對話協商妥善管控分歧。近期雙方經過密集磋商，就仁愛礁運補達成臨時性安排。這一成果來之不易，希望菲方與中方相向而行，珍惜中方善意，共同管控局勢，早日恢復海上安寧。

武官李建中大校則闡釋了中國防禦性國防政策，介紹了國防和軍隊改革發展成就，回顧了中菲兩軍交往歷史，並呼籲兩軍關係重回正確軌道。

當晚賓客雲集，為慶典增色不少，現場舉辦了圖片展，並且播放宣傳視頻。本會領導同仁和與會人士紛紛向中國八一建軍節表示熱烈祝賀，同時祝願中菲兩國友誼長存。

圖片說明
上圖：（左起）吳恆利，蔡金東，黃溪連大使，楊良田，許長安，許文忠。
下左圖：蔡金東與武官李建中大校握手合影。
下右圖：本會兩位代表副理事長楊良田、蔡金東與中國駐菲大使館僑務處施偉建領事（右三）及僑團領袖們合影。