On January 14, 2012, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Erlinda F. Basilio co-chaired the 17th diplomatic consultation between the two countries in Beijing. The two sides exchanged in-depth opinions on the arrangement of the 2012-2013 Year of Exchanges between China and the Philippines, the pragmatic cooperation in various fields and the proper handling of the South China Sea issue.