Laoag City , Philippines —The city government here signed a sisterhood agreement with Huangshan City in China yesterday.
In a chance interview after the signing of the agreement, Mayor Michael Keon said cooperation with Huangshan City is timely amid the issue on the West Philippine Sea.
“We hope this relationship will flourish and it will be good, especially at this time... when there are issues with the South China Sea,” he said.
Keon led the signing of the sisterhood agreement with Huangshan municipal committee Secretary General Yang Long.
“Regardless of whatever misunderstandings there are between the Philippine government and Chinese government over our nautical boundaries, it is incumbent upon us to continue having good relationship with our largest next-door neighbor, which is the People’s Republic of China,” he said.
”Despite EDCA, I decided and it was a good idea to reach out to the People’s Republic of China,” he added, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US.