The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from China, Chen Xiaodong, and his Philippine counterpart, Maria Teresa Lazaro, headed the meeting, where both parties exchanged opinions in a “frank and constructive manner” on the situation in the region, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Beijing lodged formal protests regarding recent activities considered provocative by Manila in the area, urging strict compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

It also reiterated the need to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation in order to manage the maritime situation and bring bilateral relations back to normalcy.

According to the Chinese side’s statement, both countries reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the area, and stressed that this is in the common interests of the states in the region.

In addition, they agreed to strengthening channels of dialogue on maritime issues, appropriately handling disagreements, and promoting practical cooperation in areas such as coastal surveillance, marine science and environmental protection.

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