As part of their commitment to driving innovation and collaboration in the digital and information communication technology (ICT) sectors, the Philippines and China recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the MoU is intended to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of emerging technologies such as 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, internet of things (IoT), industrial internet, big data analytics, and robotics.
“The signing of this memorandum of understanding between DICT and China’s MIIT is foremost an affirmation of our respective nations’ desire to continue to deepen our existing bilateral relations and to promote useful exchanges in the areas of digital and ICT cooperation,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, who signed the MoU for the Philippines. China was represented by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Minister Jin Zhuanglong.
5G and 6G a priority
Specifically, the two sides will prioritize the development of national 5G and 6G deployments, exchange best practices for digital governance, and explore potential partnerships to establish data center projects in accordance with international standards.
“This MoU between the Philippines and China will also pave the way for further agreements for the execution of projects or activities on ICT, and will support our country’s efforts to improve and accelerate digitalization in line with the priorities of President Marcos,” Uy added.
In an earlier event, the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s First Secretary Zhu Min said the two countries could further work on 5G growth and big data centers to expand the computing power and storage capacity of the Philippines.
He said both could use technologies and digitalization to transform agriculture and improve market access for farmers, noting that there is “very big room” to develop the digital economy cooperation. Zhu added that this could be especially advantageous for the countries’ initiatives: the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines’ Build Better program.
Bilateral ties between Philippines and China
During the event, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Alfredo Pascual said the Philippines has implemented policy reforms in the past five years, including amending relevant laws to facilitate foreign investments and ownership of companies involved in advanced technology.
The Philippines and China have had a long history of bilateral trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges, and the new MoU is expected to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries in terms of digital technology.
“Both China and the Philippines seem to understand that the cooperation between the two countries in the areas of bilateral trade and economics, people-to-people, and high-level exchanges, as well as the synergy of the BBB program with China’s BRI, and the anti-pandemic cooperation, have brought tangible benefits on both sides,” analysts note.
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