THE Cebu City Government has received two fire trucks, 50 sets of personal garments and equipment to be used by firefighters, and two thermal imaging cameras from the government of Xiamen City of the People’s Republic of China.
The turnover of the equipment and fire trucks was done during the 35th year celebration of sisterhood between the two cities Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at the Plaza Sugbo, Cebu City.
The fire trucks and the equipment will be used by the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade, whose representatives attended the turnover ceremony and tried the capability of the fire trucks.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella assured the Xiamen delegates that the equipment and fire trucks would be well taken care of.
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Xiamen Municipal Committee chairman Zhang Jian said the trucks serve as a symbol of Xiamen City Government to the Southeast Asian nations, adding that Xiamen City “enjoys the longstanding friendship” it has with Cebu City.
“I am wishing a flying relationship with them (Cebu City) and everlasting friendship between China and the Philippines,” said Zhang in his speech.
Acting Philippine Consul General to Xiamen Julius Flores expressed his happiness on the “longstanding” friendship between the two cities.
Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Benedicto encouraged everyone at the ceremony to give utmost importance to the relationship that Xiamen and Cebu City have built.
“Cherish more the existing friendship between Cebu City and Xiamen,” said Benedicto.
Also on Thursday, Xiamen Street in the North Reclamation Area was unveiled. The naming of the road as Xiamen Street is a reciprocal move of Cebu City after the City of Xiamen named a street after Cebu 15 years ago.
On Sept. 8, Labella, with some City department heads and officials, left for Xiamen to join the Silk Road Forum at the end of which some investors showed interest in investing in Cebu City, mostly in hotels and resorts. (JJL)