With the intention to continue the sharing of good practices in the sectors of tourism, agriculture, education and business that was halted for two years by the Covid-19 pandemic, Legazpi and Hengyang, the second largest city in China’s Hunan Province, have agreed to revive their sisterhood agreement in May.

Mayor Geraldine B. Rosal, in an interview on Tuesday, said Jeffrey Xu, Director for the Economic and Commercial Office of the City Government of Hengyang and Richard Chen of the Philippine Black Hawk Auto Corporation and Philippine Run Hui Trading Corporation arrived here today as the advance party of the vice mayor of Hengyang who will visit Legazpi next month to formalize the sisterhood agreement between the two cities.

Rosal said City Tourism Officer Agapita Pacres is now assisting the Chinese visitors as they visit tourist spots, including a city golf course, a tribal village and to experience the all-terrain vehicles in Barangay Padang, right at the foot of the cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.

She said representatives of at least four China-based travel agencies are expected to arrive here Wednesday to check on the different tourist destinations that could be included in the itinerary of Chinese visitors should they decide to come here.

Rosal said the officers of the Legazpi City government are waiting for the Chinese vice mayor for a dialogue on some important matters, particularly the sharing of ideas and implementation of the tourism development program and on how to improve the agricultural sector, education and business engagements of both cities.

She said the cities of Legazpi and Hengyang already signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2018 to create a partnership agreement.

“In fact, Hengyang City Vice Mayor Gong Xueye and other city officials, including educators and tour operators, visited Legazpi in 2019. And they pledged to bring at least 3 percent of their 80 million population to help boost the tourism industry that could contribute in boosting the economic activities of our city,” Rosal noted.

She said that the renewed sisterhood agreement could encourage the Hengyang government to invest in renewable energy projects in the city, such as hydropower plants and solar panel systems, that could benefit local businesses, particularly the public in general. (PNA)