[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.