MANILA, Philippines – Pinangunahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang seremonyal na pag-iilaw ng Jones Bridge nitong Sabado bilang paggunita sa ika-50 anibersaryo ng diplomatikong relasyon ng Pilipinas at Tsina.
Binigyang-diin niya ang matatag na pagkakaibigan at kasaysayang pinagsaluhan ng dalawang bansa, na sinisimbolo ng tulay na ito, lalo na sa Binondo—ang pinakamatandang Chinatown sa mundo.
“I am also glad to share that tonight’s event has a deeper meaning. This project commemorates 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China. Half a century of friendship and shared history, all reflected here in the world’s oldest Chinatown,” anang Pangulo sa seremonya.
Bahagi ito ng Chinatown Revitalization Project na layong buhayin muli ang Binondo bilang sentrong pangkultura at pang-ekonomiya.
Binanggit din ni Marcos ang mga proyektong pagpapaunlad ng Ilog Pasig at ang layunin ng gobyerno na panatilihin ang kasaysayan ng Maynila.
“We will transform Binondo into a place that we can always return to. From the old Manileños to the first-time visitors, lahat welcome dito (everyone is welcome here). Because how can we know our history and culture if we do not know and experience them ourselves?” anang Pangulo.
“As we speak, we are implementing projects to revitalize the Pasig River, including the Pasig River Urban Development Project so our people can breathe and move more easily. They complement what we are doing here in Binondo because an iconic bridge deserves a city that rises along with it,” dagdag pa ni Marcos.
Nanawagan si Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian ng kooperasyon sa halip na hidwaan.
“China and the Philippines are close neighbors that cannot move apart,” aniya. “It is our sincere hope that more and more people will join our efforts to bring our relationship back to even better future.”
