Another Chinese city eyes sisterhood deal

OFFICIALS from Qingdao City in China are eyeing a sisterhood agreement with Davao to boost investment and tourism exchanges.

The Qingdao City officials, headed by Standing Committee Chair Song Yuanfang, recently discussed the plan with Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte during the visit in the city.

The vice mayor, who received and welcomed the Qingdao delegates, discussed the areas that the two cities can explore.

“They are very interested to explore Davao City. I advised them to take a tour of the city so that they can see on their own the possible areas that they can explore here,” Duterte said.

Qingdao will be the fourth city in China to pact a sisterhood agreement with the city if the agreement pushes through. Jinjiang, Kitakyushu and Nanning are the current China sister cities of Davao.

Located in Shandong province, the city is best known for its beer and the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the world’s longest sea bridge.

“Qingdao is the sixth largest city in the world, so I think the Vice Mayor is correct in saying that we can learn something good from them,” said April Marie Dayap, Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) head.

Dayap said that there are many areas in the city that they can explore as part of the sister-city agreement.

“They even brought with them their business delegations to signify their sincerity in exploring a sister city agreement,” she said.

Dayap said that this will be a good venue to exchange trade and learn experiences and ways from Qingdao.