Philippines

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The Republic of the Philippines is asovereign state in archipelagic Southeast Asia. It is divided into three islandgroups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Philippines was named after PrincePhilip (later King Philip II) of Spain, by the Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez deVillalobos during his 1542-1546 expedition to the islands.

The Philippines is a unitary presidentialconstitutional republic, with the President of the Philippines acting as boththe head of state and the head of government. It proclaimed its independencefrom the Spanish Empire on June 12, 1898, following the culmination of thePhilippine Revolution. It is a founding member of both the United Nations (UN),and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has embassies andconsulates in 62 countries around the world.

The country’s primary exports includeelectronics, semiconductors, transport equipment, construction materials, andminerals. As an open economy, the Philippines trades with other economiesaround the world: it considers Japan, the United States, China, South Korea,and Germany as its top export markets.

The Philippines was host to a record highof 4.7 million foreign tourists in 2013, thanks to country’s tourism brand,“It’s More Fun In The Philippines.” Among its top tourist drawers are BoracayIsland in Aklan, Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Chocolate Hillsin Bohol, Mayon Volcano in Albay, and the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, aswell as the cities of Manila, Baguio, Vigan, Cebu, and Davao.

Source: beijingpe.dfa.gov.ph/