Photo from MACHRA/MANILA BULLETIN
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan announced on Sunday, July 23, that delegates of Chongqing, China visited the capital city last July 20 to revive their “sister-city relationship.”
The city government said the municipality of Chongqing, China is the biggest city proper in the world.
It said Chongqing is one of the four municipalities under the direct administration of the central government of the People's Republic of China, the other three are Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin.
It is said to be the size of Austria with a permanent population of 30 million.
Lacuna- Pangan, along with City Administrator Bernie Ang, formally welcomed the delegation of Chongqing in the mayor’s office at the Manila City Hall.
The delegation was headed by Lu Hong who is a standing member of the Community Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Committee and chief of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Chongqing Committee.
Manila’s tourism department Chief Charlie Dungo, Manila Chinatown Development Council (MCDC) Executive Director Willord Chua, Manila’s Ambassadress of Goodwill to China Chang Lai Fong and Manila-China Cultural Affairs Office (MCCAO) officers Jenny Wang and Owen So were also present during the event.
In her address, Hong expressed her gratitude to Lacuna for the warm welcome given to her delegation and her interest in restoring the “friendship ties” that were initially established in 2011 and were expanded to a sister-city relationship.
She noted that the municipality’s relationship with the city of Manila enabled exchanges of many aspects in governance in view of establishing deeper ties with each other.
While ties were established with Manila in 2011, she said it was not explored to the fullest.
Hong also said she admires Lacuna-Pangan for her leadership style and provision of allowances for the senior citizens and students in the city.
She added that she understands the role of being a mayor as she, too, was a former mayor in her country before she was appointed to her present post.
“Chongqing is very close to the hearts of Manilans..we have been facing the same challenges on urbanization and we want to learn more from you…we are thankful that you are here to visit us because this will open the windows of opportunities for our city. When you go back to your place, please tell them the good news that the city of Manila is a city that recognizes you not only as a partner but as a true friend of our beloved city,” Lacuna-Pangan said.
The two women leaders exchanged souvenir items and formally agreed to keep its sister-city agreement, which will foster cultural, economic, educational and trade exchanges between the two cities.