RP, China ink bilateral pacts

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and China yesterday signed agreements that map out bilateral cooperation in the next five years, and address concerns on consular procedures in providing assistance to Filipinos in China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who concluded yesterday a two-day visit to Manila, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo signed the Philippines-China Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation (PCJAPSC) which determines the direction of cooperation between the two countries in the next five years.

Romulo said the PCJAPSC “covers the gamut of economic, political, people to people, trade, investment, tourism, and all the important aspects of the relations that we have (with China).

“So we are going to intensify those relationships and all our departments will be involved just as all their ministries will be involved,” he said.

He said China remains a “strategic partner” for the Philippines.

“China is a strategic partner so we are looking forward to the Strategic Joint Action Plan to have more activities between the two countries,” Romulo said.

The Philippines-China Consular Agreement (PCCA), on the other hand, establishes the conduct of consular relations between the two nations and is expected to settle the concerns of the Philippine embassy and consulates general in China on giving assistance to Filipinos in China who are arrested or detained, need to be repatriated, or are involved in disputes.

“This (PCCA) will help facilitate the consular relationship between the two countries and in particular help our countrymen who go to China,” Romulo said.

He said the PCCA is the “first consular agreement that we (Philippines) are signing after the Vienna Convention.”

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) was a multilateral treaty completed in 1963 to codify consular procedures.    – Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero