China elements found throughout host city

A Chinese-style arch stands testimony in Manila to friendship between the two nations. [Photo/Xinhua]

From transportation to services, Chinese elements are everywhere during the 2015 APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Manila.

Within the meeting venues, such as the World Trade Center in the Philippine capital, where the APEC International Media Center is located, media shuttle buses are busy transporting reporters. "Look, it's Yutong, which comes from China," said Rely Salbuna, manager of the Philippines Genesis transportation service company, pointing to the Pinyin logo on a bus.

"These Chinese buses have a beautiful appearance, excellent performance and a favorable price. Almost all of the buses operated in the Philippines are made in China," he added.

In the office of the APEC Business Advisory Council, Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei donated 100 tablet PCs to support the paperless office process.

ABAC 2015 Chair Doris Magsasay Ho said, "The donation by the Chinese company will promote the environmental protection working style APEC proposed."

Chinese features are also easy to find in other parts of Manila.

Construction of the Manila International Container Port was completed on Friday, the first day of the 2015 APEC week.

Zhang Hongbo, project manager of China's Second Harbor Engineering Company, the contractor for the port project, said its hard work and experience helped it to accomplish the task in advance.

"The owner was very satisfied with our construction and has been our strategic cooperation partner to jointly explore the global market," Zhang added.

Located in Manila's central business area, the Confucius Institute at Ateneo de Manila University was the first Confucius Institute established in the Philippines.

Elan Palanca, director of the institute, said more than 1,000 students enroll there every year.

In addition, college students, government officials and businesspeople from Philippine companies and some multinational corporations, such as P&G and Shell, also take the language training program.

In the finance sector, Bank of China has been the only bank from the Chinese mainland in the Philippines since 2002. It began to work jointly with the Philippine Dealing System in 2012 to establish the Renminbi Transfer System, which was launched in August last year.

Contact the writers at zhangyan@chinadaily.com.cn