Manila, Philippines - Nov 13, 2017
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1. Characters of "ASEAN 50" out of meeting hall
2. 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting in progress
3. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaking

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4. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Andanar, Philippine Presidential Communications Secretary:
"ASEAN has a market of more than 600 million people. China has a market of over a billion people. China is the biggest trading partner of ASEAN and we are just neighbors in terms of geography. So we value our partnership."

FILE: China (exact location unknown) - Date Unknown
5. Various of containers, crane at seaport

Manila, Philippines - Recent
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Clarita R. Carlos, professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines:
"I think this is where the One Belt and One Road initiative will come into focus because you are trying to mesh ten economies and one way to do that is to link their highways, their freeways, their maritime avenue channels and so on. In a way, China and the rest of our partner countries would really be partners in what we want to do, which is to obtain or to ensure economic growth for everyone. Because I think we know that one of the major challenges that we face now is the huge inequality between the one percent which is so rich and the balance which is not so rich. That is the one, in fact, that is informing so many many conflicts around the world."

FILE: China (exact location unknown) - Date Unknown
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7. Various of train, containers

Manila, Philippines - Recent
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Clarita R. Carlos, professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines:
"The shared future that Xi Jinping is talking about will come from shared feelings. And respect for each other's differences and that's the best way to go."

FILE: China (exact location unknown) - Date Unknown
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9. Various of containers

Cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has grown more important and is benefiting more people, said Philippine experts.

Over the last 50 years, ASEAN has facilitated better communication and cooperation in the region. China's relationship with the 10-nation bloc has also become more significant considering the geographical relationship and trade cooperation, they added.

"ASEAN has a market of more than 600 million people. China has a market of over a billion people. China is the biggest trading partner of ASEAN and we are just neighbors in terms of geography. So we value our partnership," said Martin Andanar, Philippine Presidential Communications Secretary.

China and ASEAN are working together with more enthusiasm and the Belt and Road Initiative is a prime example of regional development strategies.

"I think this is where the Belt and Road initiative will come into focus because you are trying to mesh ten economies and one way to do that is to link their highways, their freeways, their maritime avenue channels and so on. In a way, China and the rest of our partner countries would really be partners in what we want to do, which is to obtain or to ensure economic growth for everyone. Because I think we know that one of the major challenges that we face now is the huge inequality between the one percent which is so rich and the balance which is not so rich. That is the one, in fact, that is informing so many many conflicts around the world," said professor Clarita R. Carlos from the department of Political Science of the University of the Philippines.

Looking at past economic benefits, Carlos added China and ASEAN have an opportunity to build a community of shared future - a concept championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"The shared future that Xi Jinping is talking about will come from shared feelings. And respect for each other's differences and that's the best way to go," said Carlos.