On June 9, in line with the 48 anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, and the 22nd anniversary of the China-Philippines Friendship Day, Consul & Head of Post Ren Faqiang of the Chinese Consulate in Laoag wrote a commentary article entitled "Strengthening Local Exchanges and Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation" published in an English-language newspaper called "Northern Light" in Ilocos Norte, as following:

June 9 this year marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, and the 22nd anniversary of the China-Philippines Friendship Day. In this important moment, I have reflected that deepening the local exchanges between China and the Philippines is of great importance in  promoting mutual understanding and beneficial cooperations between the two countries.

China and the Philippines are good neighbors, good partners and good friends. The exchanges between Northern Luzon and China also have a long history  dating back more than one thousand years.

As the hometown of the Marcos family, Ilocos Norte is undoubtedly at the forefront in terms of exchanges with Chinese localities. Starting from former President Ferdinand Marcos, who established diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines in 1975,  exchanges between Ilocos Norte and China enters a new chapter.

As governors of Ilocos Norte, President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos and Senator Imee Marcos visited China and promoted the friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between Ilocos Norte and China to a higher level . In 2002, Governor Bongbong Marcos visited Shandong and signed an agreement for the establishment of sister province relations between Ilocos Norte and Shandong Province. From then on, the two provinces subsequently carried out many practical cooperation in economic, trade, agriculture, education and other fields. Under the care and guidance of Governor Imee Marcos, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte and the Chinese Consulate in Laoag jointly built the Filipilo-Chinese Friendship Garden, and was successfully unveiled later next to the Malacañang of the North in Paoay. It has become a representative cultural landscape and tourist attraction for the province. 

We are happy to see that just this May 16 to 20, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc led a delegation from the Provincial Government  to visit China. They went to sister province Shandong, and China's largest economic province Guangdong. This trip was joined by a strong lineup of leaders and public officials including the province’s Administrator, different office heads of agriculture, tourism, energy, and investment, as well as President Dr. Shirley Agrupis of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU).

During their time in Shandong, the delegation visited the cities of Jinan and Dezhou. They attended the work exchange meeting with Shandong Province, and participated in the Shandong-Ilocos Norte Economic and Trade Investment Exchange Meeting. They also went to visit the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Shandong Province Vice Governor Deng Yunfeng welcomed the delegation warmly and both sides exchanged views on promoting cooperation in agriculture, education, tourism, new energy and other fields. Moreover, the two provincial leaders jointly unveiled the Shandong-Ilocos Norte Humanities Education Exchange Base. They also witnessed the signing of an agreement to establish a Joint Corn Research and Development Center between Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and MMSU, and the signing of other friendly cooperation agreements between the two educational institutions.

In Guangdong, they were welcomed by Vice Governor Zhang Xin, where the two parties exchanged views on exploring cooperation in the fields of tourism, humanities, agriculture, renewable energy, and ports. Governor Manotoc further discussed relevant cooperation with private entrepreneurs in Guangdong Province.

These exchanges and cooperation between Ilocos Norte and Shandong and other provinces of China are the epitome of friendly cooperation between China and the Philippines. In the past six years, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping, then President Duterte and President Marcos, China-Philippines relations have been consolidated and improved, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and their people, and making positive contributions to worldwide peace and stability.

In six years, the bilateral trade volume between China and the Philippines has also doubled, and China's total investment in the Philippines has tripled. As such, China remains the Philippines' largest trading partner and largest source of imports and has become the Philippines' second largest export destination. China’s "Belt and Road" initiative coupling with Philippine’s "Build, Build, Build"  has yielded fruitful results.

In January, President Bongbong Marcos successfully visited China and jointly planned the future development of China-Philippines relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They reached an important consensus, including to deepen local exchanges and cooperation between China and the Philippines.

In the past 16 years since its establishment, the Chinese Consulate in Laoag has upheld its commitment to promoting friendly cooperation between China and the provinces and cities in the consular district. The Consulate has become a bridge to these local exchanges, and facilitated the establishments of sister province relations which resulted to carrying out practical exchanges. We made donations for typhoon and earthquake-stricken areas, and funded Paoay National High School students to go to China to study for undergraduate and master's degrees, etc.In the future, the Consulate will continue to work hand in hand with the local governments in the consular district and all walks of life to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of countries, and promote new progress in friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the localities in China and Northern Luzon.

As the seventh Consul & Head of Post, I have visited seven provinces and more than a dozen cities in Northern Luzon since I took office on October 25 last year. Even in such short time, I have deeply felt the warmth of the people of Northern Luzon towards the Chinese people, their vigor and vitality for economic development, and their simplicity, kindness, diligence and friendliness. I am also very pleased to witness the signing of a letter of intent On the establishment of friendly exchange relationship between Laoag City and Huangshan City in Anhui Province of China, and the signing of a similar letter of intent between Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Province and Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province of China.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines and the China-Philippines Friendship Day, I would like to express my highest regard and heartfelt appreciation to people from all walks of life in the consular district who have contributed to China-Philippines relations. Standing at the new starting point of China-Philippines friendship, I wish prosperity and greater developments for China and the Philippines.

May the China-Philippines friendship be passed on from generation to another, and together we make another impressive chapter in our history!