Philippine Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio paid a courtesy call on 25 August on the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, represented by Vice Mayor Mme. Zōng Ming.

CG Ignacio joined fellow Heads of Consular Missions from Malaysia, Austria, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Greece and Portugal.

Vice Mayor Zōng was accompanied by Director General Zhāng Xiǎosōng, Deputy Director General Fù Jìhóng and other officials of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office (FAO).

The Vice Mayor thanked the Consular Missions for their support and cooperation during Shanghai’s lockdown. She proudly cited statistics and indicators confirming Shanghai's strong rebound and recovery across all sectors. COVID-19 “did not alter the fundamentals of Shanghai’s high quality development”, said the Vice Mayor.

As most senior of the group, Consul General Ignacio gave the first response and commended the city for its successful containment of the pandemic and restoration of socio-economic vitality. He acknowledged the valuable assistance of the FAO and the Municipal Health Commission in addressing consular missions’ concerns relative to essential operations and rendering aid to their nationals.

With Shanghai quickly regaining its vibrancy, he reiterated the Philippines’ desire to elevate relations with China and the Consulate General’s commitment to reflecting this in ties with Shanghai. He identified trade, investments, manufacturing, transport, ICT, health and life sciences as areas of priority. He also cited the strong foundation afforded by long Philippine-Shanghai ties dating to the 1930s and the city’s “opening up” in the 1990s when companies such as Liwayway China Co. Ltd. and Metrobank set up shop locally. END