China Wednesday formally opened a consulate in Laoag, northern
Philippines, which is praised by both Chinese and Filipino
officials as an important event in the development of relations
between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun, Governor of Ilocos Norte Ferdinand
Marcos Jr., former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos, Philippine
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Francisco Benedicto and 500 other
people attended the opening ceremony of the consulate.
Hailing the event as an important step in developing
Sino-Filipino relations, Li said the opening of the consulate is
the result of efforts by the governments and peoples of the two
countries.
Li said Ilocos Norte is the Filipino province which had received
the first group of Chinese immigrants hundreds of years ago,
therefore striking a historical tie with China since then.
Due to its geographical closeness to China, Laoag and its
surrounding areas have now become one of the most popular
destinations for Chinese tourists in the Philippines and are
attracting more and more Chinese to come to visit, study and
invest, he said.
Li said China wishes to continue and renew the historical tie
with northern Philippines by expanding cooperation in the fields of
infrastructure, tourism, trade, mining and agriculture.
Governor Marcos said the people of northern Philippines are
happy China has chosen Laoag to open its third diplomatic
institutions in the country and called on China to invest in the
region in the fields of infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy
such as wind and solar energy, and agriculture.
He also recalled that his late father, former President
Ferdinand Marcos, made a historical visit to Beijing, capital of
China, 32 years ago, which he said had proved to be so important
for the Philippines considering the excellent relations existing
now with China.
Laoag is the biggest city in northern Philippines with a
population of 100,000. It is known for tourist resources including
the UNESCO-designated world cultural heritage of ancient Church of
Paoay, Luzon cigars and wooden furnitures.
The Chinese consulate is the first foreign consulate to be
established here.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2007)
