Shanghai - The visibility of ties between the Philippines and Shanghai will be high on the agenda of the Philippine Consulate General’s collaboration with the Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association (SPDA) in the coming months.
This was the gist of informal discussions on September 08 between Philippine Consul General Josel F. Ignacio and Mr. ZHOU Hanmin, President of Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
The SPDA Chief, accompanied by CPPCC-Shanghai Committee for Friendship with Foreign Countries Chair LI Wenhui received Consul General Ignacio and Consul John Francis S. Herrera on an audience prior to the Association’s Second “We ART Friends” cultural exchange activity held aboard the Yuexing No. 6 Pujiang River Cruise Ship.
Recalling his visit to Manila two decades ago, Mr. ZHOU expressed congratulations on the Philippines’ development and welcomed the good prospects of ties between the Philippines and China.
Consul General Ignacio articulated the PCG’s desire to raise the Philippines’ profile via its products, crafts, culture and people, in Shanghai. He raised next year’s 40th anniversary of sister city relations between Metro Manila and Shanghai as providing propitious backdrop and impetus for cooperative activities with the SPDA. Chair Zhou welcomed the proposal and expressed readiness to engage in further discussions.
Held on the eve of China’s observance of the Mid-Autumn holidays and in tandem with the SPDA’s diplomatic “Moon Watching Party”, the Second “We ART Friends” featured talks on Chinese paintings, a live performance by renowned Erhu artist Ma Xiaohui, and an introduction on the folk culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival. END
