It was my good fortune and privilege to meet China President Hu Jintao when he came to the House of Representatives to address the Joint Session of the Congress of the Philippines. I was one of those selected to be part of the reception committee and be in a small group meeting prior to his address.

Hu Jintao talked of the "building of a China-Philippines strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development on the basis of the time-honored friendship between the two countries and two peoples."  He added that "both sides should give full scope to the respective advantages, further expand trade, increase cooperation in agriculture, fishery, infrastructure development, mineral development, tourism and other fields to bring our economic cooperation to an even higher level." He also stressed that "we must not lose sight that threats of terrorism, separatism and religious extremism continue to render Asia peace and stability uncertain.."

And on security, Hu Jintao said: "China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and sticks to the path of peaceful development. It stands for a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, seeks to settle existing differences through dialogue and promotes common security through cooperation."

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