Philippine officials, led by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, paid tribute to Ambassador Wu over the past weeks to express their gratitude for the strengthening of ties between the two countries during his brief assignment to the Philippines.
Malacañang has awarded Wu with the Order of Sikatuna, the most prestigious award given by the Philippine government to foreign diplomats who have contributed much to the development of the Philippines.
The House of Representatives, represented by Speaker Jose de Venecia, has also awarded the Chinese ambassador with a Congressional Medal of Achievement for his contributions to the strengthening of the Philippines’ ties with China.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has cited the many mutual benefits gained during the brief assignment of Wu and his predecessor, Chinese Ambassador Wang Chunggi, including the reciprocal visits of the heads of state of the two countries.
In April last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the Philippines to reciprocate President Arroyo’s visit to China in 2003.
During President Hu’s visit, the Philippines and China signed over $1.5 billion worth of agreements, of which $1.105 billion are on Chinese investments in the Philippines, $524.2 million on Chinese loans to the Philippines, and $2.5 million on Chinese grants.
The visit of the Chinese President is also part of the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China described as the "Golden Age of Partnership."
The Department of Foreign Affairs noted that the Chinese investments and loans to the Philippines are in industries considered vital to the Philippines’ economic progress, including the industries on fruit exports, energy, and construction.
The DFA also noted successful confidence-building measures between the two countries that would prove vital to the commencement of joint exploration projects on the Spratly Islands, believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
"Indeed, it can be said that over the last three decades, we have witnessed the transformation of our bilateral relationship, founded on the basis of peaceful coexistence, to the beginning of its ‘Golden Age of Partnership.’ Compared to the early years, our present relations run on a broader, deeper, more solid and unwavering course," Romulo said during a banquet in honor of the Chinese ambassador earlier this month.
Just last week, many Filipino families have also celebrated the 56th Chinese National Day as many features of Chinese culture have been assimilated into Filipino culture.
China, as well as the United States and Japan, is considered by the Philippine government as its most important ally.
Before his assignment to the Philippines, Wu was the deputy commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau Special Administrative Region from 2002 to 2004.
During his 30-year career in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wu served as the deputy director general for West European Affairs from 1999 to 2000, and as chief representative of the Joint Liaison group between China and the United Kingdom ,which facilitated the turnover of Hong Kong to the Chinese government from 1998 to 1999.
Wu eventually became counsellor and spokesman of the office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong after the turnover of the region from Britain to China. Wu also served as director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Affairs.
