Cebu and Fujian to sign sisterhood pact in September

• Source: https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/bottom-article-list/2018/04/02/1802074/cebu-and-fujian-sign-sisterhood-pact-september
• Tuesday, April 3, 2018 12:00 am

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province is set to sign a sister-province relationship with Fujian, China this September.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III will be flying to China on the third quarter of the year to represent Cebu during the signing.

The signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be in time for the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) from September 8 to 11 in Xiamen, China. CIFIT is China's only international investment promotion event aimed at facilitating bilateral investment.

The signing also includes a visit to the cities of Quanzhou, Putian, and Zhangzhou in a bid to also forge sister-city ties with other Cebu cities such as Danao, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

Several undertakings are already in line to pave way for a strong relationship between Cebu and Fujian, even months before the official signing of the sisterhood agreement.

The Province of Fujian is offering cultural-exchange opportunities, including the Fujian ASEAN government officials/International Friendship State and Province Liaison Officers Seminar.

The Capitol is invited to send two representatives to attend the seminar for 15 days in April or in May in Fujian. The seminar will include site visits to inland and coastal areas of the province, as well as lectures on Fujian culture.

Scholarship program for students from Cebu to study in institutions of higher education in Fujian was also offered by the Fujian government.

Students below 45 years old who would like to pursue graduate or post-graduate studies will be offered Chinese language and culture classes and other opportunities to deeply understand the economic and social development of the Chinese province.

The study period is from September 2018 to July 2019. The tuition and accommodation expenses, as well as comprehensive medical insurance and allowances, are covered by the Fujian Provincial People's Government Scholarship. The airfare, meals, and utility bills will be shouldered by the sending organization.

For June or July, Fujian is also proposing a two-way cultural exchange for the youth from different sectors, including the media from Cebu and Fujian.

Last month, officials from Fujian came to Cebu to discuss the programs. They are Chen Chuxin, vice president for the Fujian People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; CaiWenzhi, deputy director for the International Exchanges Division of the Foreign Affairs Office; James Jiang of International Exchange Division of Fujian's Foreign Affairs Office; ZhengZhi Liang, deputy director for the Quanzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office; and Jin TengXu, associate consultant for the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Putian Municipal Government.

Capitol was represented by Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino; Rodrigo Lachica Jr., consultant for international relations; and FlorezaAlpuerto, OIC of the Cebu Investment Promotions Office.