Asia Pacific
19:55, 20-Mar-2019
Chinese, Philippine FMs vow to finish South China Sea COC negotiation by 2021
Updated
20:24, 20-Mar-2019
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China and the Philippines has turned a new page in their relations, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi while meeting Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Wednesday in Beijing.
China will work together with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries, to remain determined, exclude interference, and strive to finish negotiations of the Code of Conduct at the South China Sea by the end of 2021, and make it a real stabilizer for the South China Sea situation, Wang said.
"We hope to build two strong cooperation areas; one in the northern Filipino city of Luzon and one in Davao in the south. We also hope to build cooperation models at Clark Industrial Park. We want to develop China-ASEAN's eastern area, and welcome the Philippines to join the multi-lateral construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor," Wang added.
Locsin said China and the Philippines are never enemies during his official visit to China pledging better maritime dialogue and stronger ties.
The Philippines and China will strive for better cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Locsin said.
No other country in history, but the new China, has aspired to rise higher, not by stepping on others, but by helping them alongside her, he stressed.
(CGTN's Wu Guoxiu also contributed to the story.)