Manila, Beijing sign agreement

In line with yesterday’s celebration of Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day, Manila entered into a friendly affiliation agreement with Beijing in simple ceremonies held at the Manila City Hall.

The agreement, signed by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Secretary Liu Zhengmin, of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Congress, stipulates that the two cities work for the exchange of culture, education and economy.

"The celebration of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day becomes more significant with the signing of the friendship pact between Manila and Beijing. We, in Manila have always been proud of our Chinese heritage and we have always been very supportive of our sizeable Filipino-Chinese community," said Atienza. Manila is the only city in the country with a Chinatown district, Atienza said.

Present during the friendship agreement were Dante Go, Chinese-Filipino Business Club officer; Aw Peng Lam, Chinatown Development Authority executive director; Manila Councilor Miles Roces; and Sing Seng, chairman of the Chinatown Barangay Association.

For his part, Liu thanked Atienza for the warm welcome and expressed confidence that the agreement will pave way for better relations between Manila and Beijing.

"This agreement would certainly promote friendly cooperation between our cities," said Liu.

Later in the afternoon, Atienza and the visiting Chinese delegation were led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in inaugurating two symbolic bridges, the Manila-Beijing Friendship and the Filipino-Chinese Friendship along Ongpin Street in the busy Chinatown district, to symbolize the close ties between Manila and Beijing. – Mike Frialde