Chinese Coast Guard visit to Philippines to show good will, mutual understanding, says Chinese Embassy

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has expressed hope the visit of the Chinese Coast Guard (CGC) this week will show good will, understanding, and trust between the two countries.

“We believe that the visit will be a very good opportunity for both sides to demonstrate goodwill, deepen mutual understanding and trust as well as enhance friendship and cooperation,” the Embassy said in a press statement.

General Wang Zhongcai, commandant of China Coast Guard, will lead the delegation.

For the first time, a China Coast Guard vessel will pay a friendly visit to the Philippines on January 13 to 17 upon the invitation of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Various activities will be conducted during the visit such as cross deck visit, search and rescue and fire fighting exercises, as well as friendly sports games.

The Third Meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) between China and the Philippines will also be held on January 14 to 16.

The JCGC was established in 2017 following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PCG and CCG on the establishment of the JCGC on Maritime Cooperation witnessed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2016.

The Embassy press statement said that in the past three years, the CCG and PCG have maintained close contact and frequent high level exchanges. A hotline between the two sides has been established to facilitate the communication in agreed areas.

It added the two Coast Guards have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of combating transnational crime, maritime search and rescue, fishery law enforcement, environmental protection, and emergency response.

“We are fully confident that the high level visit and the third meeting will further enhance our mutual understanding and inject new impetus into the healthy and steady

development of the China- Philippines relations, and contribute to the regional peace and stability,” the press statement said.

There were instances in the past when Chinese Coast Guard shooed away Filipino fishermen and journalists in the West Philippine Sea where China. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News