China is eyeing to broaden its bilateral partnership with the Philippines, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, mining, farming, telecommunication, and education, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said.

During the 17th Metro Manila Business Conference Friday, Liu said his government “is ready to continuously boost its cooperation” with the Philippines, as he expressed China’s interest for a joint geothermal venture between the two countries.

“We will continue the effective and fruitful cooperation with the government of the Philippines, and we are also very much looking forward to working even closer with the private sectors,” the Chinese top diplomat in the country said.

He called on Philippine authorities to harness the country’s geothermal resources to lure foreign investments amid the global economic slowdown.

“Your country is also endowed with enormous potential of geo-thermo exploitation. Enormous would be the possibilities for both countries to jointly develop other clean and renewable resources such as wind and solar power,” Liu said.

He said the Philippines is among those China’s partners that will benefit from the economic giant’s robust economy amid the financial crisis.

“A stable, sound and dynamic Chinese economy will bring about great development opportunities for the rest of the world, including the Philippines. As China’s economy picks up, the trade and economic cooperation between our two countries will grow closer and our strategic and cooperative relationship will be hoisted to a new high,” he enthused.

In international forums, he said China’s ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations “yield more progress and bear more fruits” as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement is expected to be implemented next year.

The economic pact provides that about 93 percent of trade goods between China and the ASEAN countries will be exempted from tariff and as a result, consumers on both sides will have wide-ranging choices of more than 7,000 zero-tariff items in the market, Liu said.

“We see our role in the international community more as a cooperator and a contributor than a competitor. China is the largest developing country, and the Philippines is a country of rich resources and talented people.

“China’s efforts accelerating industrialization and urbanization create tremendous market potential. Our two countries are bound to cooperate for win-win results,” he said.