On June 9, on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, Consul General Zhang Zhen and Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro attended the 25th China-Philippines Friendship Day Event, together with Metro Cebu Mayors and over 200 guests from local governments, the Filipino-Chinese community and various sectors.

In her address, Consul General Zhang Zhen reflected on the long history of exchanges between the two peoples as well as the past 51 years of bilateral diplomatic relations, noting that good-neighborliness serves the fundamental interests of both two peoples and countries. "The opportunities we share together far outweigh the differences that divide us," she underscored.

Consul General Zhang touched on her experiences since her arrival in Cebu. “What has truly stayed with me most is the people, the warmth, sincerity, and kindness of every Cebuano and Visayan I’ve met. Your warm smiles, your firm handshakes, our shared aspiration for peace and development, have given me nothing less than confidence and motivation to stay focused on one wish.” That wish, she explained, is to carry forward the enduring friendship, deepen bonds, deliver tangible benefits to all, and work jointly toward building a better community with a shared future for mankind. She extended a sincere invitation to friends from all sectors to join the effort, turning that shared wish into concrete reality.

Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro and the representative of Filipino-Chinese Community also delivered remarks respectively, reaffirming their commitment to promoting people-to-people friendship and subnational cooperation.