Senator Cynthia Villar led a 43-member delegation (including the House Deputy Speaker, several Congressmen, Mayors, Councilors, other officials and representatives from private sector) to visit Fujian Province, particularly Xiamen and Jinjiang cities, from 24 to 27 November 2016.
The delegation attended the 14th China (Xiamen) International Food Procurement Fair and 2016 South Food Industry Exhibition on 25 November 2016 where Senator Villar was one of the special guests during the Opening Ceremony. The delegation visited the booths showcasing different Chinese food products such as tea, dried, canned and smoked seafood, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables, etc. There were also two (2) Philippine booths participating –Liwayway (China) Co., Ltd. and The Family Dream (distributor of “guyabano/wheat grass health products)
Trade Fair officials led by Mr. Joeven Wong, Director General, Xiamen Municipal Bureau of and Convention and Exhibition Affairs, hosted a welcome lunch for Senator Villar who met Trade Fair and Xiamen Exhibition and Conventions Bureau officials.
The delegation also visited the Xiamen Free Trade Zone (FTZ) where they were given a briefing on the operations of the FTZ including its customs policies such as the one-stop shop investor clearance system as well as its 2015 accomplishments. The delegation was also given a tour of Seashine Mall and Qiaotoubao (Creative and Cultural Business Park) where they were briefed of the business opportunities and investments available for foreign investors.
Marking the first high-level Philippine Government delegation visiting Xiamen since 2013, the Trade Fair provided a valuable opportunity to renew friendship between the Philippines and Fujian Province as well as a platform for the delegation to witness the developments and as well as forging of vital partnerships in Fujian Province. The Delegation was warmly received by Xiamen City officials including Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (FOCAO) and Trade Fair officials.
Given the warming-up of Philippine-China relations, Post expects a steady flow of visits to Xiamen/Fujian from both public and private sectors, signaling more cooperation activities between the Philippines and Fujian province. END
