On March 9, Consul and Head of Post Zhou Youbin of the Chinese Consulate in Laoag attended the virtual signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) and the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU).

 

In his remarks, Consul Zhou congratulated MMSU and SAAS for the signing of their agreement manifesting the start of their cooperation in various fields such as agriculture and research.

He also emphasized that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Duterte, the comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between China and the Philippines has been consolidated and further developed. He noted that during the fight against the pandemic, the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries bucked the trend and achieved fruitful results. The consul also mentioned the successful visit of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Philippines last January which opened to the signing of series of cooperation agreements between the two countries making China-Philippine cooperation enter into a newer and broader prospect under the new normal of the pandemic.

 

Further, Consul Zhou pointed out that since establishment of sisterhood relations between Shandong Province and Ilocos Norte, the two have maintained close exchanges and deepened cooperation. And, during difficult times of fighting against the pandemic, the two sides firmly supported each other, recalling how Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc posted a video expressing support for Shandong Province in their fight against the pandemic and how Shandong Province worked closely with the Consulate to donate a large amount of anti-pandemic materials to Ilocos Norte.

Consul Zhou likewise said that Shandong is a strong agricultural province in China and Ilocos Norte is a major plantation province in the Philippines. Both have shown impressive capabilities in the maize industry and has set a strong foundation for a stronger cooperation and exchanges. The signing of the agreement will surely help promote the upgrading of the planting industry in Ilocos Norte and achieve tangible results.

MMSU President Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Deputy Director of Shandong Foreign Affairs Office Sun Yebao, SAAS President Professor Wan Shubo, and other guests attended the signing ceremony. Both MMSU and SAAS expressed their gratitude to the Consulate for its support in the cooperation between the two institutions.