China, India vow to support Philippines' recovery from Marawi battle

China and India have pledged to help the Islamic city of 200,000 people to recover from the damage left behind by the bloody war.

Picture for representation
Debris and fire are seen after an OV-10 Bronco aircraft released a bomb, during an airstrike, as government forces continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, who have taken over large parts of Marawi City, Philippines June 19, 2017. Reuters

Two of Asia's leading economies vowed that they want to help the Philippine government rehabilitate battle-torn Marawi City that needs at least USD 395 million to heal the economy.

Since there are only 80 armed terrorists left, the Philippine military announced that the armed conflict will end soon. China and India have pledged to help the Islamic city of 200,000 people to recover from the damage left behind by the bloody war.

China earlier pledged USD 300 thousand as an initial assistance to rehabilitate the City of Marawi and as a relief assistance aside from the 3,000 rifles that were given to Philippine troops to battle terror in the on-going armed conflict in Marawi City.

China Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jinhua, told journalists that the assistance given to the Filipinos is a result of the flourishing relationship between China and the Philippines.

On the other hand, the India government also sympathised with the victims of the on-going armed conflict in the Southern Philippines. The Asian giant also announced that it was willing to offer assistance for the rehabilitation of the battle-torn City.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and India Embassy in the Philippines External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier spoke over the phone and discussed the situation and how the Indian government can help in the rehabilitation efforts.

The Indian embassy also released a press statement expressing the solidarity of her people with the Filipino people in their fight against terrorism and offered assistance to support the rehabilitation of the embattled city that caused the displacement of more than 200,000 residents.

Cayetano and Swaraj also discussed the preparation for the forthcoming India-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting expected to be held in August 2017 in Manila.

While, as of January 2017, India's investments in the Philippines is valued at USD 650 million, several small and medium sized India-based companies have been opening up in the Philippines in the last three years.

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