NEWS

PHILIPPINE VICE PRESIDENT NOLI DE CASTRO MEETS KEY OFFICIALS OF ANHUI PROVINCE AND HEFEI CITY

________________________________________________________________________________

(L-R) Ambassador Sonia Cataumber Brady, Vice President Noli De Castro, Anhui Provincial Party Secretary Wang Jinshan, and Governor Wang Sanyun

Vice President Noli de Castro with Vice Chairman Tian Weiqian of China People’s Political Consultative Congress Anhui Provincial Committee

 Vice President Noli De Castro with Hefei City Mayor Wu Cunrong

Anhui Provincial Party Secretary Wang Jinshan called on Vice President Noli de Castro during the latter’s recent visit to Anhui Province for the 5^th Central China Expo.  Party Secretary Wang was accompanied by the Anhui Governor Wang Sanyun and representatives from the people’s congress, Foreign Affairs and Commerce departments of Anhui Province.

During the call, the Party Secretary thanked the Vice President for honoring the province with his visit and for his show of support to the Central China Expo.  The Party Secretary mentioned that China and the Philippines are friendly neighboring countries that have long cooperative ties.  He expressed hope that as time goes by our cooperation will further broaden and intensify. He also noted that despite the global financial crisis, there are opportunities for Anhui’s partners present and that it is important to seek these out and make the most of the situation.

For his part, the Vice President commended the leadership of the province and the resiliency of the people for the successful holding of the expo and that that what is even more crucial is for both sides to help each other identify value sectors.  He pointed out that the business delegation accompanying him is eager and optimistic to capture business opportunities that the event presents.

The Vice President stated that the Philippines is interested to expand its relationship with Anhui and that there are many products and industries in the Philippines that are open for investment.  He mentioned mining, agriculture, IT, tourism as some of the most viable industries that foreign investors can look at in the Philippines.  He also noted that the Philippines and China are not just friends but reliable partners.  He urged the forging of closer links between the province and its cities with their counterparts in the Philippines.  He said that people-to- people exchanges will complement relations.

The Vice President extended his invitation to the Party Secretary and the Governor to visit the Philippines.

Anhui Province has sister-city relations with the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Cavite.  END