The Philippines should not and can not ignore China as a growing economic and military power, a senior senator said Tuesday.

Senator Joker Arroyo, who joined the Philippine delegation to Beijing for the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) conference starting Sept. 3, told reporters that the Philippines gained from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's state visit to China from Sept. 1 to 3.

He also noted that the president had been so well-received in China that she was seated beside high-ranking Chinese leaders led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao when she attended in the ICAPP conference.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., also a member of the Philippine delegation to the ICAPP conference, earlier also said the three-day state visit of President Arroyo to China "was worth it."

"The value of state visits of the president should not be measured only in dollars and cents. The importance of state visits, especially to China, the looming giant in the northwestern horizon of the country, cannot be gainsaid," Pimentel said.

"A good neighbor, a Chinese proverb says, is better that an absent brother," he added.

In the House of Representatives, applause was also heard for the loan deal between the two countries' leaders during the state visit, especially the 400-million-US dollar loan agreement forged for the construction of phase one of the North Rail project.

"The project will provide greater accessibility to the development zone in Clark and other investment areas in (the northern provinces of) Bulacan and Pampanga. On the other hand, Central Luzon residents and investors will have easier access to Metro Manila," Reps. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said.

Reps. Lorna Silverio also agreed that the project, which is expected to be completed by 2007, will bring tremendous benefits to Central Luzon residents, who will have greater access to Manila and Clark.

The North Rail Project costs 503 million dollars, of which 421 million would be funded by the Chinese government through the Export-Import Bank of China.