LAOAG City — Pledging deeper regional cooperation, a Chinese diplomat and Northern Luzon officials gathered to expand sub-national diplomacy during the National Day Reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, .
Consul Li Xiaoyan, head of post at the Chinese Consulate in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, highlighted the expansion of local government dialogues, noting recent visits by six provincial leaders from Region II and the Cordillera Administrative Region to Shandong and Chongqing.
Li emphasized that economic momentum is driving expanded regional engagement across Northern Luzon after six provincial leaders from Region II and the Cordillera Administrative Region recently completed official visits to Shandong and Chongqing.
“China-Philippines friendship is rooted in a broad public foundation; China-Philippines local exchanges and cooperation are blessed with broad prospects for development,” Li said while pledging that the consulate will continue to serve as a bridge and a bond, and add its strength to friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between local areas of China and Northern Luzon.
The Chinese consul added the China-Philippines local exchanges and cooperation are blessed with broad prospects for development, pledging that the consulate will continue to serve as a bridge and a bond for regional cooperation.
Provincial leaders meanwhile framed these diplomatic exchanges as vital opportunities for municipal benchmarking and economic alignment.
Kalinga Vice Gov. Dave Odiem, who recently toured Chongqing, urged local leaders to continue strengthening bilateral relations at the municipal level.
“That visit gave us the rare opportunity to witness firsthand the development that China has made, to forge meaningful ties with our Chinese counterparts, and to carry back lessons and goodwill that will enrich our own communities in the North,” Odiem said.
Mountain Province Vice Gov. Jose Dominguez echoed the importance of people-to-people connections following a multi-provincial delegation to Wanzhou district to meet with local Communist Party officials.
“May the friendship between our peoples continue to grow stronger, and may there be many more opportunities for us to learn from one another and build bridges between our communities,” Dominguez said.
The event also marked the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, in which Li reported a first-half gross domestic product of 69.6 trillion RMB, and anticipated the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 25, 2026.
Li added China’s gross domestic product reached 69.6 trillion RMB (626.4 trillion pesos) in the first half of the year.
“Our development has never been a solo performance, but a symphony resonating with the world,” Li said, highlighting technological growth in robotics, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and reusable rocket technology. Roderick Osis
