With Pinoy Businessmen: Chinese traders still keen in forging trade relations

CEBU, Philippines – Despite the tragic event last August 23 wherein eight Chinese nationals end up dead after a botched hostage rescue at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Chinese trad-ers remain keen in strengthening the trade relations between China and the Philippines.

A 29-men delegation led by the Wuhan Municipal Government from Central China, arrived in Cebu Thursday, for a three-day trade mission to explore trade opportuni-ties, forging government to government sisterhood agreements, and to reassure the country that the Chinese maintains its confidence in the Philippines, specifically Cebu, as a tourism destination.

"Tourism in Cebu is very popular among us. More tourists from our side have expressed interest in Cebu as their favorite destination," said Wuhan City Mayor Yue Yong.

According to Yue, the part of the agenda for the trade mission is to 'get the personal feeling on the Philippines [state of tourism], "so we can tell to our citizens our per-sonal experience here."

The delegation was welcomed by the Cebu business community led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). The group will also make rounds to dif-ferent trade organizations, such Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC), Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cebu, Chinese business groups, and the Cebu City government.

Yue said the Wuhan City in China would like to forge a closer trade-exchange relationship between Cebu and also Manila, via a sister-city relationship under the framework of existing Philippines-China relation.

The group spent two days in Manila for the same purpose, but it has expanded its stay in Cebu for three days, as the group believes that it can create stronger trade ex-changes, and tourism exploration in this side of the Philippines.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, is the largest City in Central China, with a population of over seven million.

A major junction of traffic and communication, it is also the center of economy, culture and politics in Central China and is strong in industries such as metallurgy, automobiles, machinery and high-tech industries.

Initially, aside from tourism, the delegation also aimed to import more food products from Cebu-dried mango in particular.

However, to Yue members of the delegation would like to explore more opportunities for business in partnership with the local businessmen here.

The delegation is composed of varied industry representatives and officials of the Wuhan government.

Yue further downplayed the effect of the hostage crisis last month, saying more Chinese, especially from the Hubei Province are still interested to come to Cebu for va-cation and leisure activities.

"Cebu is becoming very popular in China as a destination," he stressed. (FREEMAN)