China's Huaihua to Strengthen Phl Trade Ties Under RCEP

From a quiet mountain city in Hunan province, China's Huaihua is steadily gaining ground as a logistics gateway for Asia-Pacific trade, and one that seeks deeper connections with the Philippines.

- By CHRISTINE JOY BOTON

HUNAN, China - From a quiet mountain city in Hunan province, China's Huaihua is steadily gaining ground as a logistics gateway for Asia-Pacific trade, and one that seeks deeper connections with the Philippines.

On May 10, during the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Land Port Tour, Huaihua International Land Port general manager Yang Shijun emphasized the city's openness to enhanced logistics cooperation with the country.

"The current situation is that our cooperation with the Philippines is still ongoing. We also look forward to developing more logistics channel networks with the Philippines so that economic and trade can be further deepened. We also hope that the Philippines and China can further deepen cooperation and improve relations."

The comments come as the Philippines enters its second year as a party to the RCEP Agreement, the world's largest free trade pact by GDP and population, which officially took effect for the country in June 2023.

RCEP spans 15 economies, including the 10 ASEAN nations and partners like China, Japan and South Korea.