Thursday, November 08, 2007 Rody's trip to Nanning By Jojie Alcantara Witerary
NANNING (which means peaceful south), once a richly historical and ancient city of China, is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and has become the hub of the vast southwestern region's passage to the sea, and the pilot city in China 's cooperation with Asean.
Rendered with the name "China's Green City", Nanning is now a highlight in China's economic development, and is attracting investors from all over the world as an important place in the thoroughfare that links south with north, and east with west in south China.
It was upon the invitation of Nanning Mayor Chen Xiangqun that recently brought our Mayor Rody Duterte and delegates to Nanning City, as a fulfillment of the friendship pact between two cities last September 4 in Davao, when Mayor Xianggun visited Davao.
The fruitful visit accomplished several things, the highlight of which were the signing of friendship agreement, and the planting of the friendship tree.
The first night was a dinner hosted by Vice Mayor Zhou Yi and the following day was a lunch meeting at Wharton Hotel with Mayor Chen Xiangqun, Vice Chairman Feng Jiaxiang, Vice Mayor Zhao Hongsheng, Vice Chairman Tang Jiwu, Secretary General Wei Ziguang, Foreign Affair Director Huang Juru, and Vice Secretary Qin Mengzheng.
After the two mayors' one on one meeting, the delegates visited and viewed the master plan of Nanning New & High-tech Industrial Development Zone (NNHITECH).
Established in 1988, the Nanning High Tech Zone exercises comprehensive economic management authority at city level to offer good-quality and high-efficient services to investors.
As the center of science and technology, culture and education in Guangxi, NNHITECH collects colleges, occupational schools, and research institutes, which are the strong support for developing high-tech industries.
It has become the backbone of Nanning's economic development and investment attraction. Nanning has an open door policy that encourages foreign investment and joint ventures.
The next day, the delegates were able to join in the festivities of the 17th China Chef Festival and 2007 Nanning International Tourism & Food Festival of Southeast Asia. At this feast, famous cuisines from home and abroad, dishes, and famous snacks were cooked by chefs from different associations, star hotels and restaurants, and individual operators.
As the most dynamic and open city in Guangxi's economic development, Nanning has received the honors of "Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment", "China Ten Top Cities for Eco-environmental Construction", "Award for Excellent Living Environment in China", "The Green City of China", "National Hygiene City" and "China Top City for Environmental Comprehensive Treatment", among others.
The exchange of visit is expected to boost and foster good business relations between the two cities as well as help develop tourism, good practices and cultural exchanges which both can learn from each other.
The Davao delegates were composed of Mayor Rody Duterte, Roberto Teo, Christopher Lawrence Go, Samuel Uy, Lorenzo Angbue Te, Jaime Cruz, James Gaisano, William Lima, Eduardo Bangayan, Jesse Cruz, Gapore Usman, Alison Cua, Yang Hongming, Liu His Pin, Wanda Teo, and Daniel Wong.
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