A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the UP Diliman (UPD) Confucius Institute (CI) and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), stands as an overarching mechanism to foster cooperation between the two institutions.

A government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the CDC entered into an MOU with the CI to build the capacity of its personnel on the Mandarin language and culture that would be useful in CDC’s efforts in attracting more foreign investments, particularly from Chinese investors, and in boosting Clark’s tourism and business market.

“The CI and CDC serve as initiators, facilitators, and catalyzers of the people-to-people interactions towards achieving synergy to boost tourism, economic trade, and cultural exchanges in an era where China is no longer viewed as another player but as a formidable force to reckon within globalization,” CI Director Lourdes T. Nepomuceno said.

Nepomuceno added that she is glad that the CDC through its president, Agnes VST Devanadera, approved the renewal of the MOU with UPD. The CDC’s first MOU with the CI was in October 2018.

One of the responsibilities of the CI in this new MOU with the CDC is to conduct free Chinese Mandarin classes for CDC personnel

Meanwhile, Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II said the MOU between the CI and the CDC is a good start for more collaborations.

“We can bring anything here in UPD [over] there if needed, in terms of faculty, in terms of competencies, in terms of training programs and educational programs,” Vistan said. The MOU signing ceremony was held on Aug. 16 at the Balay Kalinaw. Also in attendance were UPD and CDC officials that included UPD Office for the Advancement of Teaching Director Ivy D. Suan, CDC Vice President for Administration and Finance Group Jose Miguel R. de la Rosa, and CDC Assistant Vice President for Administration Bonifacio O. Tarenio Jr.