The Philippines was confirmed as the guest country of honor for the 21st China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), which will be held in Xiamen, Fujian province in 2020 according to a letter by Ramon Mangahas Lopez, Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines.

The Philippines, an island country located southeast of China, is home to many highly sought after agricultural products, including coconuts, bananas, sucrose, and tobacco, and has abundant mineral and fishery resources.

China and the Philippines have maintained sound political and economic relations since they established diplomatic ties in 1975. Fujian province in China and Cebu province in the Philippines have developed a strong friendship, and Xiamen and the city of Cebu have become sister cities.

In recent years, economic cooperation between the two countries has made great progress in in terms of trade, investment, and tourism, among other areas.

Over the past few years, the organizing committee of CIFIT has been implanting national strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative, and has deepened its cooperation with the Philippines.

The committee sent a team to the Philippines and held a CIFIT promotional conference and roadshow with the help of Filipino government departments from April 21 to 24.