Governor invited to China forum

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the brewing controversy stemming from the infamous hostage crisis that ended the lives of Hong Kong tourists, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has been invited to the 2nd China-ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Start-up Forum this month.

The event will be held in Liuzhou City, Guangxi Autonomous Region on September 15-17. Garcia said the invitation came from Mr. Wu Jiong of the China-ASEAN Association. 

An estimated 350 people will attend the forum, including government officials, diplomatic envoys, women entrepreneurs, representatives of international friendship organizations, commercial chambers and news media from China and other ASEAN countries.

Garcia said she had conveyed her appreciation for the invitation, but the schedule of the event would reportedly conflict with a prior commitment for Vietnam.

“I am considering the works we have done and in boosting Cebu’s image. This invitation is even more meaningful to us,” she said.

Fears have surfaced that the hostage crisis will put a prominent dent on present relations between China and the Philippines, but Garcia said this should not be the case, as she considers all people in Asia as brothers and sisters.

Meanwhile, Garcia also received a separate invitation – this time, from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – for her to become a founding member and to co-host the R20-Regions of Climate Action, a new international organization that combats climate change.

The organization will be launched during the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 3 in California on November 15-16.

“I invite you to join as a founding member of R20 to usher in new era of climate change solutions,” Garcia quoted Schwarzenegger’s invitation. – THE FREEMAN