Chinese, Canadian foreign ministers pledge to improve bilateral ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, in Beijing on Friday, with both sides pledging to improve bilateral ties.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada. The course of the development of China-Canada relations shows that the two countries can become partners that achieve mutual success and common development on the basis of mutual respect, he added.

Wang noted that China is willing to work with Canada to take the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 20th anniversary of their establishment of a strategic partnership as opportunities to resume dialogue and exchange at all levels, guided by the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries.

He called on the two sides to advance the resolution of each other's legitimate concerns, explore and tap into cooperation in various fields, expand people-to-people and cultural exchange, and strengthen communication and collaboration on multilateral affairs. He also said that they should work together to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international economic and trade order, and steer China-Canada relations onto a track of healthy, stable, sustainable development at an early date.

Anand said that the momentum to improve bilateral relations between the two countries is currently favorable, and that positive progress has been achieved. Canada adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to strengthen its high-level exchange with China and deepen mutual trust. It is also ready to make good use of dialogue and consultation mechanisms in areas such as diplomacy, the economy and trade, and to promote cooperation in fields including trade, agriculture, tourism, energy, and people-to-people and cultural exchange, she noted.

Canada firmly supports multilateralism and free trade, Anand said.

Chinese, Canadian foreign ministers pledge to improve bilateral ties

Though tens of billions of pesos spent on flood control projects in recent years in the Philippines, questions have been raised about the value of that investment as flooding from Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and 127 missing, with more than 2.14 million people affected nationwide.

In Talisay City, Cebu Province, homes have been reduced to rubble, mud has clogged up streets and families are left picking through the wreckage of homes that have been swept away by floodwaters.

"I saw a banana being washed away and I grabbed it for breakfast. It's very hard because our food at home, like rice, also got washed away. We used to live here, but most of our houses have been swept away,”said Mary Jean Apog who has taken shelter in a makeshift tent built from storm debris.

Many residents in flood-affected areas have been left wondering whether money earmarked by the government for flood control projects has been spent wisely.

Between 2022 and 2025, more than 400 flood-protection projects worth over 26 billion pesos (about 441 million U.S. dollars) have been launched in Cebu, the second highest investment of all the nation's provinces.

Vince Dizon, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited Talisay City on Wednesday, where he said people should be held accountable for the poor state of the region's flood defenses.

"Poorly planned, poorly executed, and we don't know if there are anomalies here. That will be up to the ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) to find. But definitely, someone should be held accountable here," he said.

According to the country's disaster management authority, more than 6,700 houses were damaged in the typhoon, and hospitals, schools, and other public facilities suffered extensive damage. Power and communications were disrupted in many towns, closing schools and businesses.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.

Flood control projects under question as Typhoon wreaks havoc in Philippines