A Philippine diplomat in China is hoping to bolster cooperation between the two countries through the municipalities of Sanming and Longyan in the Chinese province of Fujian.
Philippine Consul General to Xiamen Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena expressed her hope that the Philippines and China would expand their ties particularly in the areas of education, trade and investment, health and rural reforms as she joined a tour of the western part of the province in December 2024.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday, Jan. 6, said that the Philippine official spoke as the “Dean of the Consular Corps” during the trip organized by the Foreign Affairs Offices of the Fujian province.
Fujian is located in the southeastern part of China, across the island of Taiwan.
It is home to various industries, such as tea production, clothing and sports manufacturers, and has shared part of the world’s history, such as the Ancient Maritime Silk Road.
There are also several Filipino scholars in the province.
Mendoza-Oblena participated in a three-day tour that included visits to the Shaxian Snacks Cultural Plaza, Folk Museum and Interactive Center; Sangang Group‘s 1958 Industrial Memory Museum, and Wanshouyan National Archaeological Site, all in Sanming; as well as the Guanzhai Mountain Scenic Area, the Memorial hall of the Central Red Transportation Line, the Fujian’s Fulongma Company, and the Tukou Hakka Folk Culture Village, which are all in Longyan.
Officials of the Consulate General of Singapore in Xiamen, the Royal Thai Consulate General in Xiamen, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government, and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government also participated in the tour.