“Cagayan is a peaceful loving province. We do not want any quarrel with any of our neighbors. We are having a hard enough time helping our people to have a better quality of life. We cannot be distracted with conflict we are not part of. As the father of this province, it is my duty to protect my people and make decisions that will best serve them. Cagayan is for peace. Cagayan is for cooperation. Cagayan is for lasting friendship and partnership between our countries and our people.”

Ito ang mensaheng binitawan ni Governor Manuel Mamba kasabay ng pagsalubong kay Consul Ren Faquiang, Consul of Head of Post of the Chinese Consulate in Laoag sa pagbisita nito kasama na ang iba pang opisyal na sina Consul Ma Ning, Ji Ling Peng, Councilor of Chinese Embassy in Manila; Shao Dai Hong, Third Secretary, sa Kapitolyo ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Cagayan, ngayong araw Pebrero-13.

Malugod na sinalubong ni Governor Mamba kasama ang First Lady of the Province Atty. Mabel Villarica-Mamba ang mga Konsulado sa Commissary building ng Kapitolyo kung saan nagkaroon ng maikling programa.

Dito inihayag ng Gobernador ang pagkakaisa sa hangarin ng mga Cagayano na buksan muli ang probinsiya bilang International Gateway para sa istratehikong kooperasyon sa China. Aniya, malaki ang gampanin ng bansang China bilang kapit-bansa ng Pilipinas lalo na sa Cagayan na aniya’y higit na makakatulong sa pag-unlad ng pamumuhay ng bawat Cagayano.

Muli ring binalikan ng ama ng lalawigan ang kasaysayan ng Tsina at Pilipinas na aniya’y noon pa man bago dumating ang mga Espanyol at sakupin ang bansa ay dati nang partner ng Pilipinas ang China sa kalakalan. Patunay rito ang mga natagpuang Chinese at Japanese artifacts at century-old Chinese-Filino community.

“I believe that opening up our historical connection with our long-time trading partner through the establishment of the international seaport, again the re-opening of Aparri and the International airport in Piat and creating stronger economic and cultural bond through a sisterhood agreement with a complementary province of China, our country and people can engage in mutually beneficial economic and cultural exchanges founded in mutual respect and cooperation,” saad ni Gob. Mamba.

Inihayag rin ng ama ng lalawigan ang kanyang hangarin na maging partner ang China lalo na sa pagpapausbong sa bansa sa larangan ng agrikultura ,imprastraktura, enerhiya, turismo, kalakalan at investment.

“We have the natural resources and the young, educated workforce to make this possible,” ani Gob Mamba.

Sinang-ayunan naman ni Consulate Faquiang ang pahayag ng Gobernador na ang China ay tahimik at abala lamang ang bansa sa ekonomiya.

“Honorable Governor, I agree 100% with you that peaceful environment is very important for any country’s development. For the past 45 years China did not involve any war. We ensure a peaceful environment focused to achieve an economic development to become the fastest world economy,” ani Faquiang.

Nagtapos naman ang programa sa pamamagitan ng photo opportunity para sa mga local na opisyal na dumalo sa nasabing pagbisita.