Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Guangzhou, China Mayor Guo Yonghang signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) renewing the sister-city relations between their cities.
Accompanied by city administrator Bernie Ang, Manila-China Affairs Coordinating Office (MCACO) officer Anna Sy Lim and Manila Chinatown Development Council (MCDC) liaison officer Owen So, the Guangzhou delegation paid a courtesy visit to Lacuna.
Other city officials were also present, namely Manila Sports Council (MASCO) head Roel de Guzman, Lacuna’s chief of staff Joshue Santiago, permits bureau chief Levi Facundo, tourism chief Charlie Dungo, Universidad de Manila president Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria and division of city schools Supt. Rita Riddle, who all witnessed the simple signing ceremonies held at the mayor’s office in City Hall.
The Chinese delegation was led by deputy director-general of Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou China Hongzhe Tu and Zewu Liu, Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangzhou Committee.
The MOU cited the fact that both cities have long nutrured strong bonds of mutual trust and respect through active exchanges in various fields and thus remain committed to sustain and further develop friendship and collaboration for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
It also seeks to jointly explore and support new avenues of cooperation and exchanges in a wide range of commercial and educational areas such as information technology, digital technology, green technology, tourism financial services, business operations, sustainability and biotechnology.
Cultural, educational and scientific exchanges and fostering of stronger ties between cultural and academic institutions of both cities will also be explored further. Both mayors expressed desire for a fruitful cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
Lacuna cited the aid extended by the China government to Manila at the height of the pandemic.
Manila, through the efforts of city administrator Ang, was the only local government in the country that was allowed to directly purchase 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines from China.