28 December - Consul General Josel F. Ignacio was received today on a courtesy call by Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Director General Mr. ZHANG Xiaosong at the FAO Headquarters in Shanghai’s central district of Jing’an.

In attendance were Deputy Consul General Marlowe A. Miranda, Economic Officer Consul Conrado B. Demdem, Jr., Philippine Trade and Investment Center Head Commercial Vice Consul Mario C. Tani, and Philippine Department of Tourism OIC Warren S. Palacio. The Director General was backstopped by Consular Affairs Division (CAD) Director Mme. YAN Yanqiu, CAD Deputy Director Mr. CHEN Yongliang, and Philippine Desk Officer Ms. TIAN Lan. 

Congratulating Shanghai on its sustained growth, effective pandemic management and high quality of life, Consul General Ignacio manifested the Philippines’ abiding interest in boosting interaction in the economic, cultural and people-to-people spheres. “Shanghai is the third largest market for Philippine goods in the mainland, importing 2.5-billion dollars’ worth of goods in 2020”, he recalled.

The Consul General underscored the strong foundation on which to further ties. He recalled Philippine links with Shanghai as early as the 1920s spanning commercial, shipping, banking and even dance hall jazz music courtesy of Filipino musicians. He then cited the revival of interaction in the 1990s when, amidst China’s drive toward “reform and opening up”, Metrobank, Liwayway (China), and Dai-Ichi Electronics launched local operations in a show of confidence in Shanghai.

Director General ZHANG renewed the FAO’s commitment to its “fruitful working relationship” with the Consulate General and the “close and good ties” between Shanghai and Filipino enterprises in the city.

The two sides touched on future cooperative undertakings and other issues of mutual interest, including protecting the population from COVID-19, support for the Consulate’s assistance to Filipinos in the metropolis, and the much hoped-for resumption of cultural and tourism exchanges. END