Shanghai, 28 June 2021 – The Consulate General of the Philippines accentuated the vibrancy of Philippines-China economic and people-to-people relations and Shanghai’s keystone role in propelling these facets of ties, at the Belt and Road Forum on Sustainable Development held on 26 June in Qingpu District.
The Forum was part of the three-day 2021 Foreign Diplomats International Cultural And Artistic Exchange Tour organized on 25-27 June by the Beijing-based media outfit Home and Abroad News Press (HANP) in partnership with Shanghai-based World Handicraft Industry Exposition Park.
The Philippines was among the countries represented at the event, which included Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Togo.
Consul General Josel F. Ignacio guested in VIP Dialogue Session 2, together with the Consuls General of Iran and Cuba. Addressing the topic “How to use Shanghai's advantages to promote the "Belt and Road" cooperation in various sectors between China and participating countries?”, he underscored China as “one of (the Philippines’) most important partners bilaterally and regionally”, and extolled the country’s trade and business engagements with Shanghai as a “mirror of the healthy overall Philippines-China bilateral relationship.”
Since 2018, Shanghai has been the third largest market for Philippine products on mainland China, according to the Consul General. It has also been home to China operations of major Philippine companies such as Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd., Dai-Ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd., and Metrobank. “Philippine companies were in fact among the first to manifest their confidence in the promise of China’s reform and opening up”, he proudly declared.
The Consul General wrapped up his remarks by proffering thoughts on maximizing the synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN’s Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.
The day prior, the Consul General, with Consul Conrado B. Demdem, Jr., and Commercial Vice Consul Mario Tani, joined the ceremonial launch of National Pavilions to be housed at a new exhibition hall under construction at the World Handicraft Industry Exposition Park in Qingpu. slated to open in October this year. The Philippines was among 15 countries allocated gratis pavilions.
Capping the activities was a tour on 27 June of Zhujiajiao, dubbed the “Venice of Shanghai.” Consul Demdem, Commercial Vice Consul Tani, and Consulate General Administrative Officer Ronald Villanueva joined counterparts in a tour of the 1,700-year old water town and its famous Buddhist temple, old houses and shops lining the waterways, intricately-designed rock bridges, and traditionally attired boatmen expertly navigating their gondolas along the narrow tributaries. END
