Wang exchanges views with Philippine minister

China and the Philippines should remove any disturbances and manage differences calmly and properly so as not to affect the overall situation of their bilateral relations, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday as he met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin in Tunxi, Anhui province.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the South China Sea and agreed that maritime issues should be managed appropriately in their relations.

Wang emphasized that inappropriate actions in particular should be prevented so as not to disturb or damage their ties as well as stability in the South China Sea.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

China is ready to take the anniversary as an opportunity to work with all parties on sharing peaceful and stable consensus as well as accelerate consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea so as to jointly make it a sea of peace and cooperation, Wang said.

In response, Locsin said the Philippines is ready to enhance communication with China and make concerted efforts on the South China Sea.

Wang said that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has firmly pursued a friendly policy toward China since he took office and that this wholly serves the fundamental interests of the Philippines and its people and also promotes peace, stability and development in the region. It is hoped and believed that this correct policy can be sustained, he said.

He spoke of the consistency and stability of Beijing's good neighbor policy toward Manila and that Beijing always makes Manila a priority in its neighboring policy.

Beijing is ready to strengthen public health cooperation with Manila and continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine assistance to the Philippines in accordance with its needs, Wang said.

The Philippine foreign secretary said his country's relations with China have become more mature and that pragmatic bilateral cooperation has benefited the long-lasting interests of both sides.

The Philippines will continue to actively support and participate in the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields, Locsin said.

China, as a responsible major country, he said, adheres to independent and peaceful development, which has set a new model in the turbulent world, and China has played an irreplaceable role in global economic growth.

The Philippines resolutely opposes any rhetoric that would smear China as engaging in "vaccine diplomacy", he said, adding that China leads the region's countries in fighting the pandemic in solidarity and that Chinese vaccines have become a "lifeboat" for all.

In addition to Locsin, Wang received three other Southeast Asian foreign ministers－from Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand－in Tunxi over the past few days.