BAGUIO CITY – Consul and head of post Li Xiaoyan, Consulate of China in Laoag City, led the celebration of the 25th Philippine-China Friendship Day organized by the Baguio Filipino-Chinese community at Newtown Plaza here on Friday, June 5.

The celebration was marked by the release of doves and balloons as a symbol of friendship between the two countries and the distribution of 150 grocery packs to selected indigent families of the City Social Welfare and Development Office from six barangays in the city.

"The more than two decades of good relations between the Philippines and China, not only as friends, but as a family, with continuous cooperation towards the growth of the economies of the two countries, cannot be underestimated. I thank and congratulate the city of Baguio and the Filipino Chinese community here, for their good relations and cooperation towards the development of the economy of the city," Xiaoyan said.

"Since then, not only have the Fil-Chi community been seen helping out on occasions, but in times of calamity, they have been the ones who have been at the forefront in distributing aid to our affected compatriots. In addition, they have also been our partners in developing tourism, so we are very grateful for their concern for our city," Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.

“Most of us, especially me, were born in the Philippines and do business in Baguio City, so we love this place, and the relationship and friendship with the city will never end, instead, our support and assistance to our countrymen will continue,” Baguio-Benguet Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCCI) Executive Committee Chairman Peter Ng said.

Philippine-China Friendship Day, also known as Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day, is held annually on June 9. It commemorates the historic establishment of official diplomatic relations between the two nations on June 9, 1975 and the observance was officially established through Proclamation No.148 signed in 2002.