Phuket gets another “sister’
PHUKET CITY: Nearly three years after the idea was first floated, Phuket and Hainan Island, in China, are now “sisters”.
The special status relationship was ratified on Sunday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura and Hainan Governor Wei Liucheng, at the Royal Phuket City Hotel.
The MoU, which became effective immediately, states having the purpose of “further enhancing and developing friendship and cooperation between the Parties and promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, and through friendly consultations, have reached agreement on the establishment of sister city relations.”
The agreement ratified that Phuket and Hainan are to, for the mutual benefit of both islands, promote friendly contacts and economic and trade, and cooperate in tourism, culture, education, agriculture, human resource, science and technology, among other fields.
Talk of Phuket and Hainan, which has a population of nearly 8 million, becoming “sister cities” began in October 2002, when then-Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi met then-Hainan Governor Wang Xiaofeng.
Earlier this year, Phuket and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands “twinned” on June 29, and Phuket has been a sister with Nice in France for decades, while Phuket Town is a sister city with Las Vegas, Nevada.
