China and the Philippines agree to continue dialogues on South China Sea

China and the Philippines held the ninth meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea in Manila, the Philippines, on Tuesday.

Both sides agreed that maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is in the interests of China and the Philippines, and also the common goal of countries in the region. They agreed to continue dialogue and consultation through mechanisms such as the BCM to manage differences.

The two sides had a candid and constructive exchange of views on the situation in the South China Sea, especially regarding the control of the Ren'ai Jiao situation.

China reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao, as well as its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.

China urged the Philippine side to immediately stop the infringing and provocative acts in the sea, abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, return to the right track of settling differences through dialogue and consultation and work with China in managing the situation in Ren'ai Jiao to promote de-escalation of the situation and stabilization of bilateral ties.

The two sides also exchanged views on improving the communication mechanism related to the sea, promoting dialogue between the two countries' marine police, and promoting cooperation in marine science and technology as well as environmental protection.