Foreign Minister: Hope to restart negotiations with China

The Philippine ABS-CBN website reported on August 31 that the Philippine Foreign Minister Manaro said in an inquiry of Parliament that day that although the Philippines was controversial on the South China Sea issue, the Philippines was still willing to restore oil and natural gas exploration with China in the South China Sea. negotiation.

Manaro revealed on the 31st that he had told Chinese officials that the Philippines had a "open attitude" in energy exploration and negotiations. It is now or later, the Philippines needs these resources. " He also said that if Philippines restarts negotiations, the two sides may find the way forward. Manaro confirmed that if joint exploration and development are to be carried out, Beijing hopes that Manila complies with Chinese law. But Manaro also emphasized that the Philippines would not agree with any violations of the Philippine Constitution. He also mentioned that so far, no other countries have expressed their interest in developing related waters.

On November 20, 2018, under the joint witness of the leaders of China and the Philippines, China and the Philippines signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Oil and Gas Development Cooperation" between China and the Philippines. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at the time that China and the Philippine signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Oil and Gas Development Cooperation" means that the two parties have taken a new step in oil and gas exploration and development cooperation.

In June of this year, there is news that the Philippines said that it has terminated cooperation with China's South China Sea Energy. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded at the time that China -Philippine's joint development of maritime oil and gas was the right path of maritime differences and mutual benefit and win -win results on the premise of not affecting their respective claims of the sea. The leaders of the two countries have reached an important consensus. The governments of the two countries signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Oil and Gas Development Cooperation" and actively conducted negotiations under this framework to achieve important progress. China is willing to work together with the Philippines's new government to promote joint development negotiations, strive to take the substantial steps as soon as possible, and truly benefit the two countries and peoples.

In July of this year, the Philippine President Marcos said at Manila to meet the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was invited to visit the Philippines that the South China Sea issue was not the mainstream of the Philippines and China relations, and should not be restricted and hindered the cooperation between both parties. The Philippines is willing to communicate frankly with China to find friendly solutions. Wang Yi emphasized that Philippine and China cooperation far surpasses sea differences at sea, cannot let specific differences define relations between the two countries, and cannot let individual disputes interfere with cooperation between the two countries.

Global Times/Zhen Xiang

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