China-PHL WPS talks fruitful

BEIJING – The Philippines and China agreed to leverage the positive meetings between President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping in resolving irritants in the West Philippine Sea.

Both sides recognized the ever-improving Philippine-China relations during the fifth meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) on 28 October.

The parties agreed on the importance of the BCM as a platform for regular dialogue that can play a significant role in the enhanced and stable development of bilateral relations and peace and stability in the WPS.

The BCM was touted as an avenue to discuss and consider ways and means to promote practical maritime cooperation, properly manage and address differences, and continuously enhance dialogue and mutual trust between China and the Philippines.

They reiterated the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and their commitment to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.