Manila(Philippines)

Manila(Philippines)

[Overview] Manila is the capital city and political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Philippines, as well as an important transportation hub and trading port of the country. Located by the Manila Bay, on the west bank of the Pasig River and the southwest of Luzon Island, Metro Manila covers an area of 638 square kilometers and has a population of 12.88 million.

[Politics] Manila's governing bodies are Manila City Council and the government. The city government has a mayor and a vice mayor, both elected for a term of three years and may be reelected up to twice. The city councilors also serve three-year terms but cannot be reelected. The incumbent Mayor of Manila, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, took office in June 2019.

[Economy] Manila's pillar industries include port business, manufacturing and tourism. As an important place for the processing of primary products in Southeast Asia, the city mainly produces sucrose, coir ropes and coconut oil. It is also a famous tourist destination that receives more than one million tourists a year on average.

[Culture and Education] Manila boasts a large number of cultural heritage sites, including the Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Rizal Park and San Agustin Church. It is also home to three municipal public universities, 67 private universities and eight libraries.

[Relations with Beijing] Beijing and Manila officially became sister cities on November 14, 2005, and the two cities have had close exchanges and fruitful cooperation in economy and trade, culture and other areas over recent years.

Investment and Trade: In 2019, Beijing Foton Motor Group announced its new commercial vehicles at Manila International Auto Show. According to statistics provided by some foreign media, Foton Motor Group is the Chinese automaker that has been present in the Philippines for the longest time by 2018 and the only Chinese brand among the mainstream auto brands in the local market.

Culture: In 2007, Beijing sent a cultural delegation to Manila for the 6th Philippine-China Traditional Cultural Festival jointly organized by the Chinese embassy and the Manila city government. The Manila government sent participants to Beijing's Chinese Training Program for Officials from Sister Cities multiple times. 

马尼拉市(菲律宾)

【概况】马尼拉市是菲律宾首都，政治、经济、教育与文化中心，重要的交通枢纽和贸易港口。位于吕宋岛西南的马尼拉湾畔、巴石河西岸。大马尼拉市面积638平方公里，人口1288万。

【政治】马尼拉市级管理机构包括市政府和市议会。市政府设市长和副市长各1名，市长和副市长均由选举产生，任期3年，最多可连任3届。市议员任期3年，不能连任。现任市长伊斯科·莫雷诺于2019年6月就职。

【经济】马尼拉经济支柱产业为港口运输、制造业和旅游业。马尼拉是东南亚地区重要的初级产品加工地，主要产品包括蔗糖、棕缆、椰子油等。作为知名旅游目的地，马尼拉年均接待游客数量超过100万人。

【文化教育】马尼拉拥有丰富的文化遗迹，包括马尼拉大教堂、西班牙王城、黎刹公园、圣奥古斯丁堡等。马尼拉市有3所市属公立大学、67所私立大学，还有8所图书馆。

【两市交往】2005年11月14日，北京市与马尼拉市正式建立友好城市关系。近年来，两市交往密切，经贸、文化等领域合作成果丰硕。

经贸领域：2019年，北京福田汽车参展马尼拉国际车展并宣布推出新款商用车。据外媒统计，福田汽车是2018年在菲运营时间最长、且跻身当地主流汽车品牌的唯一中国汽车企业。

人文领域：2007年，我市选派文化交流团赴马尼拉参加由驻菲使馆与马尼拉市政府联合举办的“第六届中菲传统文化节”。马尼拉市政府还曾多次选派官员参加我市主办的“北京国际友好城市官员汉语培训班”。

（Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government）