Cebu inks sisterhood agreement with Fujian

• Source: https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-business/2018/09/13/1851087/cebu-inks-sisterhood-agreement-fujian
• Thursday, September 13, 2018 12:00 am

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu and China's Fujian province yesterday signed a sister-province agreement to boost people-to-people and economic ties between the two provinces.

The agreement seeks to establish a friendship province relationship.

"The two sides agree to make a concerted effort, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, to promote people-to-people friendly contacts and economic and trade interflow between the two provinces, and actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, culture, sports, health, education, personnel, tourism, environment, agriculture and fisheries, and disaster risk reduction," read the agreement, signed by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Fujian Gov. Tang Dengjie.

The two provinces seek to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the Filipinos and the Chinese "and to consolidate and develop friendly cooperation between the two provinces."

This agreement will be valid for five years.

"Upon expiration, it shall remain in force unless either side terminates it," the agreement said.

Last weekend, the Cebu provincial government's Cebu Provincial Investment and Promotions Office and the Fujian provincial government also signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint promotion of the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silkroad between the two provinces.

The signing took place during the Cebu delegation's participation at the 20th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) last Sept. 8-10 at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center.

During the said event, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Xiamen Chamber of International Commerce also signed a joint cooperation agreement during the Cebu-Fujian Business and Tourism Cooperation Seminar.

The participation of Cebuano businessmen at the CIFIT is a congenial way to attract Chinese investors to Cebu.

The investment fair was also an opportunity to bank on the good relationship between China and the Philippines in expanding trade and investment relations.