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China and the Philippines hold the 7th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea

2023-03-24 20:54

On March 24th, 2023,Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong co-chaired the 7th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea(BCM) with Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Maria Theresa P. Lazaro in Manila.It was the first face-to-face BCM meeting between the two countries since the onset of COVID,in an effort to implement the important consensus on maritime issues reached between the presidents of the two countries. 

The two sides spoke positively of the development of China-Philippines relations, and emphasized that the important consensus on maritime issues between the two presidents should be implemented expeditiously.The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the situation in the South China Sea and maritime issues of respective concern. The two sides agreed to exercise restraint, make good use of the hotline between the two foreign ministries, improve maritime communication and dialogue mechanisms, and enhance talks and exchanges between different departments and on multiple levels. The two sides agreed to manage and control differences and properly handle emergencies at sea through friendly consultations. 

The two sides agreed to further leverage the role of BCM and promote practical cooperation in areas such as diplomacy, defense, coast guard, oil and gas development, fisheries, maritime affairs, maritime search and rescue and marine scientific research and environmental protection.The two sides emphasized on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the acceleration of consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and the shared commitment to upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea. 

The meeting was attended by representatives from competent authorities of diplomacy, national defense, natural resources, ecology and environment, transport, agriculture, energy, coast guard, etc. The two sides produced more than 10 items of consensus and outcomes.


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