Duterte meets with Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC, to strengthen communication and cooperation between the ruling parties of the two countries.
Xinhua News Agency, Manila, February 20: The Chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, President Duterte, met with Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC, in Manila on the 20th.
Song Tao stated that China and the Philippines are friendly neighbors. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Philippine side to implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of both countries, strengthen exchanges between the ruling parties, enhance political mutual trust, comprehensively promote cooperation in various fields, and advance the development of bilateral relations.
Duterte expressed that the Philippine side looks forward to comprehensively strengthening practical cooperation between the two countries. The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan is willing to strengthen institutionalized exchanges with the Communist Party of China, continuously deepen mutual trust and cooperation.
After the meeting, under the witness of Duterte, Song Tao and the President of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, jointly signed a memorandum of understanding on exchanges and cooperation between the two parties.
The China-Philippines Coast Guard will establish a communication hotline and conduct mutual visits and training.
[Philippine Dragon Network Special Report] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the China Coast Guard visited the Philippines this week and discussed future actions with local counterparts, including establishing a direct communication channel between the two countries' coast guards.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, Commander Armand Balilo, stated that the two sides will meet from February 20 to 23 in Subic, Zambales, to discuss matters related to search and rescue, preventing marine pollution, curbing illegal activities at sea, and joint anti-drug operations.
Balilo stated on Monday (20th): "The two sides will also discuss the establishment of a hotline communication mechanism and contact points for the two countries' coast guards."
The two sides will also discuss mutual visits of vessels, training, and assistance for the human resource development of the Philippine Coast Guard.
This is the second meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Cooperation Committee (JCGC), which was established under a memorandum signed during President Duterte's visit to China.
The first meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Cooperation Committee was held in Manila last December.