Beijing mayor vows Filipino hospitality in 2008 Olympics

The Beijing Olympics in 2008 will have a touch of Filipino hospitality, the city’s mayor said after getting a sample of the Philippine capital’s warm reception yesterday.

Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan told Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and guests who gathered at City Hall’s Bulwagang Villegas that he would adopt the well-known Filipino hospitality in the upcoming Olympic games in China.

Wang arrived at the Manila City Hall at around 9 a.m. and signed a sister-city relations agreement with his counterpart in a bid to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two cities.

According to Atienza, the sister city pact is in accord with the joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations that the two countries forged decades ago.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo sought the assistance yesterday of the Chinese government for the country’s housing project for the poor in a reclaimed area in Manila and asked Atienza to spearhead this.

"The People’s Republic of China has been so kind as to finance our railroad reform (program) that aims to extend our metropolis, so now we are working with them to also finance our massive housing program," she said.

The President made her proposal during Wang’s courtesy call at Malacañang, during which the Chinese official was accompanied by Atienza.

Wang said his visit to the county was his first official trip abroad this year, and that he was inspired by the heartwarming welcome bestowed upon him by Filipinos when he arrived at around 10 p.m. last Sunday.

Wang, through his interpreter, said that he realized he had a lot of things to learn, particularly about the gracious hospitality of his host country. "In the Olympic games 2008, our citizens will render the same hospitality as Filipinos. I felt an unprecedented and heartfelt welcome when we arrived at the Manila City Hall," he said.

"The Chinese are also hospitable to guests but it is presented in a different way. Your (Filipino) kind of hospitality is better (for) the Olympic games," the Beijing mayor added.

He said that with 998 days before the Olympics, they have been very busy making preparations. Just recently, they launched the five mascots corresponding with each color of the Olympic rings: panda, fish, Tibetan antelope, swallow and the Olympic flame.

"We are very confident that we can deliver successful games in 2008," Wang said.

The sister cities agreed "that the two sides will carry out, in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit, exchanges and cooperation in various forms in the fields of economy, science, culture, education, urban construction, sports, health and other concerns to promote common prosperity and development."

Atienza said that although the Beijing municipality’s population is about 12 million — definitely bigger than Manila’s — they have a lot in common such as actively promoting economic and social development.

The agreement aims to "enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and the Filipinos and consolidate and develop friendly cooperation between the two cities."

In conclusion, the two top leaders exchanged tokens.

Wang gave the Manila official a history book of Beijing and a scroll, in return the Beijing mayor received a symbolic key to the city, a book on the history of Manila and a signing pen.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando also gave Mayor Wang a warm welcome when the latter paid him a visit at the MMDA office in Makati City yesterday.

Fernando and other agency officials and employees gave the Chinese official a short tour of the building before he and his companions were escorted to the conference room.

Wang is visiting the country and the MMDA to learn more of its projects and programs in hope of duplicating the same in his own locality.

Fernando, known as the "pink panther" for his colorful traffic embellishments, has been tagged as a dictator by some while others think of him as a very righteous and disciplined leader.

The MMDA head has attracted visitors from other countries because of his policies and style and has been both chided and championed by the local media.

Wang’s visit, the MMDA’s information department announced, was simply a courtesy visit with no strings attached.

Fernando gave Wang a brief look at how the MMDA functions and operates during the visit.

"For Beijing, it is important to link with Manila and make more mutual visits for more urban development," Wang said in a short statement as translated by his secretary and interpreter. — With Aurea Calica, Michael Punongbayan