By BEN ROSARIO
MANILA, Philippines — Despite the on-going diplomatic controversy over Scarborough Shoal between between Philippines and China, Beijing has aired its willingness to back the Philippines in its request before the World Trade Organization for extension of its special treatment of quantitative restriction on rice imports.
This was revealed by Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, disclosed that he received a report from a team of Philippine officials visiting Beijing that Chinese Deputy Minister for International Trade Yu Jianhua had aired this stand of his government.
The team headed by National Food Authority Administrator Angelito T. Banayo met Yu in Beijing on Thursday.
Yu said his country will support the Philippine request, citing the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries.
This came as a pleasant surprise to the Philippine delegation led by Administrator Banayo and Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Romeo Reside, along with NFA lawyer Gilbert Lauengco, who came to the Chinese capital to start formal bilateral negotiations seeking to extend quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports, which are otherwise due to expire June 30, 2012.
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Topic: Rice Imports of the Philippines (Read 428 times)