Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and City Administrator Bernie Ang welcomed a delegation from Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China,headed by Lin Bao Jin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; Huang Jianxiong, Vice Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government and Wu Yongzhong, Mayor of Fuqing City.
Aside from Lacuna and Ang, the delegation was also welcomed by by Yu Huahong, chairman of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; Lin Weizhao, President of the Philippine Fuzhou Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and Huang Liyun, President of the Philippine Fuzhou Association , Inc.; Willord Chua, Executive Director of the Manila Chinatown Development Council (MCDC); Ati Co, coordinator and liaison officer of the Manila-China Affairs Coordinating Office (MCACO); Owen So, MCDC officer; MCACO coordinator Anna Sy and Secretary Jenny Wang; Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM) chief Charlie Dungo and the mayor’s chief of staff, Joshue Santiago.
The delegation paid Mayor Lacuna a courtesy visit in Manila City Hall where she and Lin signed a cooperation agreement between Manila and Fuzhou, with the purpose of fostering continuing friendly relations between their respective cities while encouraging the exchange and strengthening of ties in the aspects of culture, education and economy.
After the courtesy visit, a luncheon-reception was hosted by the city government of Manila at the Century Seafood Restaurant in Century Park Hotel
Lacuna, in her speech, welcomed the delegation and expressed assurance that both cities will mutually benefit from the cooperation agreement that she and Lin have signed.
She cited the importance that the local government of Manila gives to its brothers and sisters of Chinese descent, citing their contribution to the city’s rich history and progress over the years. She also said that Manila is host to the biggest Chinatown district in the world.
At the height of the pandemic, Lacuna said that the Chinese-Filipinos and even the China government, extended much-needed support to Manila government and its residents.
The city of Manila, through the efforts of then Secretary to the Mayor Bernie Ang, was the only local government in the country that was allowed to directly purchase 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines.
Lacuna said this helped the city ramp up its vaccination efforts so that Manila led in achieving population immunity quickly. (JERRY S. TAN)
