■ CEBU CITY SIGNS SISTERHOOD AGREEMENT WITH SICHUAN CAPITAL

Food diplomacy cemented the gap between the city of Chengdu in China and Cebu City, with Chinese chefs Rong Jian Chen and Jiang Li Xiong serving authentic Sichuan dishes at the White Gold House during the visit of Chengdu Mayuor Luo Qiang, who was here to sign a memorandum of understanding with his Cebu City counterpart, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for a sister-city partnership. The Cebu-Chengdu relationship hopes to foster cultural ties, promote tourism and investment, and facilitate projects between the two local government units. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is considered a sub-provincial city in China with a population of 18 million.

14 teachers from Chengdu visit Cebu to conduct free classes on Chinese culture, arts and tradition. Cebu City and City of Chengdu planning for more programs and projects that both cities can implement.

The Cebu City Government and the City of Chengdu in China signed a sister-city partnership yesterday.

Chengdu Mayor Luo Qiang and his delegation came to Cebu to sign the memorandum of understanding with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

In his news conference last Wednesday, Osmeña said that the two cities were exploring what projects and programs they will implement.

Chengdu is a sub-provincial city in China and is the capital of Sichuan Province.

It is also among the areas in China with big population.

“I don’t know much about Chengdu yet as far as their ability to assist us. They’re very big. They have 18 million people and it’s as big as Metro Manila,” Osmeña said.

Alvin Dizon, Osmeña’s consultant on sister city concerns, said they hope that the Cebu-Chengdu partnership will foster cultural ties, promote tourism and investment, and facilitate projects between the two local government units.

In line with Qiang’s visit here, 14 teachers flew to Cebu from Chengdu to conduct free classes on Chinese culture, arts, and tradition.

In celebration of the “Chengdu’s Panda Cultural Fest” from June 20 to 22 hosted by the Cebu Cherish School Inc., Cebu Filipino-Chinese Amity Club Inc., Cebu Filipino-Chinese United Community, and Philippine Visayas Chinese Education Research Center Inc., interested students were given classes on calligraphy, hand shadow, clay molding, Kung Fu, and Chinese cuisine.

Authentic Sichuan dishes made by Chinese chefs Rong Jian Chen and Jiang Li Xiong were also served during a dinner in the White Gold House. /