Bohol’s chocolate hills get ‘sister mountain’ in China
By Joel Guinto
INQ7.net
Last updated 09:25pm (Mla time) 10/29/2006
NANCHANG, CHINA -- The Chocolate Hills in the central Philippine province of Bohol now has a "sister mountain" in China, the Lushan mountain in the southern Jiangxi province.
On Sunday evening, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is in China on an official visit, witnessed the signing of a "sister agreement" between officials of the provinces, aimed at joint tourism promotion.
Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado told reporters here that the Chocolate Hills would be mentioned as a "sister mountain" in promotional materials for Lushan mountain and vice versa.
"Because of these unique and beautiful mountains, we decided to have a sister mountain agreement," Aumentado said, shortly before Arroyo and her party took off for Guilin also in Jiangxi, where they will be given a tour of the Li river.
During a meeting with Arroyo, Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Chinese Communist Party's Jiangxi provincial committee, said China would donate eight million RMB or close to eight million pesos, for the purchase of medical equipment at the Bohol hospital, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
The donation was also aimed at boosting tourism between Bohol and Jiangxi, Bunye said.
"We hope to see more of your tourists with us," Bunye quoted Arroyo as telling Meng.
To which, the Chinese official responded, according to Bunye: "I cannot agree with you more."
Arroyo also urged Jiangxi businessmen to invest in the Philippines. She was accompanied by among others, businessman Carlos Chan, the manufacturer of Oishi snack foods, who has investments in the Chinese province.
"The President is looking forward to investments coming from the other side," Bunye said.
Bunye said Meng praised the President as a "very capable leader" who has "the control to guide the country."
see the link for more informations and pictures:
Philippine Daily Inquirer