By Xiao Wu, video by Xingchen Yue, iChongqing news.

Chongqing - “This is the first time that we hold the Philippine Food Festival in Chongqing. It is historical in a way.” Mr. Crescente R. Relacion, the Consul General of the Philippines to Chongqing, introduced during the Philippine Food Festival.

Mr. Relacion took the exclusive interview with iChongqing at Chongqing Jiefangbei Crowne Plaza on June 5, sharing his thoughts on the cultural and people to people exchanges between Chongqing and the Philippines.

The Festival will last from June 6 to 12 in Chongqing Jiefangbei Crowne Plaza. "The Philippines is composed of over 7100 islands," Mr. Relacion continued, "different islands have their own specific local dishes. I think Chongqing residents will be very interested to know more about Philippine cuisine."

Mr. Relacion is confident that Chongqing people will actively embrace Philippine culture. "The oldest China Town in the world is in Manila. People of our two countries have interacted with each other for centuries. Chinese people, in general, are very open to any culture." Mr. Relacion said.

The Festival marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Consulate General of the Republic of Philippines in Chongqing. Besides the Philippine Food Festival, fantastic Philippine cultural performances are also on stage in the SM Square of Chongqing, which is open to the public from June 7 to 12.

"Since 2017, Manila has prepared to establish a sister city relationship with Chongqing. We have entered the final stage." Mr. Relacion said positively. He indicated that the Philippines would like to seek deeper cultural and business interaction with Chongqing.

"Our president is very much interested in cooperating with China in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," Mr.Relacion told iChongqing. "We are formally on board of BRI. It enhances multilateralism, economic development, and makes (our) people have close contact." He also encourages traveling businesspeople from the Philippines to visit Chongqing and western China. "They can see for themselves the progress and development the Chongqing and western China have made under the BRI." 

The new International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has made the transportation time from the Philippines to Chongqing reduce considerably. "Under BRI, we can benefit from infrastructure construction, economic development, and documentary facilitation made by both sides." Mr. Relacion told iChongqing.