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Title:
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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 14, 2017
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Author:
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Hua Chunying
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Source:
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Foreign Minisitry of PRC
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Date:
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March 14, 2017
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Description:
- Q: Could you talk about the specific arrangement for Vice Premier Wang Yang's visit? Will he meet with President Rodrigo Duterte? What will be the main agenda items? A: Vice Premier Wang Yang will pay an official visit to the Philippines from March 16 to 19. During the visit, he will meet with President Duterte, hold talks with the economic management team of the cabinet of the Philippines, address the opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism and deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Philippines Economic and Trade Forum. President Duterte paid a successful visit to China last October and China-Philippines relations have been turned around. We have seen an upward momentum in the development of China-Philippines relations, as the two countries deepen their political mutual trust, conduct practical cooperation across the board and resume dialogue and cooperation on maritime issues, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries and facilitating regional peace and stability. Last week, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan visited the Philippines, where he chaired the 28th Conference of China-Philippines Joint Committee of Trade and Economy and met with six Philippine cabinet ministers, including the Finance Minister, reaching extensive consensus on practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields. We believe Vice Premier Wang Yang's visit will further enhance mutual trust between China and the Philippines, deepen China-Philippines good neighborliness and friendship, advance practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields and take China-Philippines relations to a new level. Q: Regarding media reports about Chinese survey ships cruising waters near the "Benham Rise", Philippine President Duterte said yesterday that those were just research vessels and have not intruded waters of the Philippines. The Philippines and China had reached common understanding on this and the Philippine side had been notified by the Chinese side. As things are going great, the Philippines and China should not fight about ownership and sovereignty. How does the Chinese side comment? A: China welcomes and commends relevant remarks by President Duterte. As he said, China and the Philippines have already communicated and had a friendly exchange of views on the relevant issue, clarified the facts and appropriately handled the issue. I wish to reiterate that China fully respects the Philippines' rights over the continental shelf in the "Benham Rise" and there is no such thing of China challenging those rights. But the basic principle of international law says that the EEZ and the continental shelf do not equate with territories, and a littoral state's exercise of rights over the continental shelf should not hamper such rights as freedom of navigation enjoyed by other countries under international law. Currently, under the concerted efforts of China and the Philippines, the bilateral relationship is developing with a sound momentum and practical cooperation in various areas is picking up speed. This is in line with the common interests and aspiration of the two peoples. From China's point of view, we attach great importance to the good neighborly and friendly partnership with the Philippines, and stand ready to work with the Philippines to implement the two Presidents' consensus of " upholding good neighborly and friendly cooperation, appropriately handling differences, and pursuing common development", bear in mind the larger picture of bilateral relations, continue to enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, deepen friendly cooperation, and strive for the continued, sound and steady development of bilateral relations.
