VISAYAS and the rest of the Philippines can look forward to stronger collaboration with the Fujian Province in China in the areas of common development.

In a letter addressed to Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, the Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Provincial People’s Government expressed interest to work with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

“We stand ready to work with you to promote business and trade, culture, tourism, and anti-COVID-19 cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges, to achieve win-win results and common development, benefit the two peoples, and make greater contributions to the friendship between China and the Philippine,” Fujian Foreign Affairs Office said in the letter.

The Fujian Provincial People's Government also thanked Secretary Dino for his participation in the successful Fujian-ASEAN Friendship Provinces/Cities Conference and online signing ceremony of the Governors/Mayors' Forum of Fujian-ASEAN Friendship Provinces/Cities held last September 16.

"The conference discussed jointly combating COVID-19, sharing development opportunities and deepening win-win cooperation and achieved fruitful results," read the letter from the Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Provincial People's Government addressed to Secretary Dino.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your wonderful speech,” said the Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Provincial People's Government.

In his speech, Secretary Dino encouraged the business sector in Fujian Province to look at Cebu and the rest of the Visayas as a potential site for investment. He then expressed how grateful he was for the opportunity to participate in the conference amid the pandemic.

He also thanked the Fujian Government for its continued support to the Cebuanos and the Visayas especially in this time of the pandemic.

Secretary Dino expressed hope that both countries will further develop a deeper relationship in facing and overcoming COVID-19.

Cebu City has a sister city partnership with Xiamen, one of the top cities of Fujian province and China, which will be on its 36th year on October 26. (PR)