ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Amid the territorial row involving the Philippines and China, the city government will forge sisterhood ties with two Chinese cities.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, along with 12 city officials and 70 representatives from the private sector, left for China on Monday for the signing of the agreement at the sideline of the 12th China-ASEAN Expo.
Salazar said the sisterhood ties would be signed with the city governments of Zhoushan and Guigang.
Zhoushan City in Zheijang province is one of China’s special economic zones, while Guigang in Guangxi province is a first-level port city where major industries such as construction, power, sugar, paper and transportation are located.
Salazar said the sisterhood ties with the Chinese cities would not be detrimental to the Philippines’ claims to the West Philippines Sea or South China Sea.
She said the agreements were approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the city government complied with the requirements of the Department of Interior and Local Government.