INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE JOINT COAST GUARD COMMITTEE: PHILIPPINES AND CHINESE COAST GUARDS AGREE TO FURTHER ADVANCE COOPERATION

28 February 2017 – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and China Coast Guard (CCG) held the Second Organizational Meeting and Inaugural Meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) in Subic Bay in the Philippines from February 20 to 22.

The meetings were convened to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Coast Guard and China Coast Guard on the Establishment of a Joint Coast Guard Committee on Maritime Cooperation, which was signed on October 20, 2016 witnessed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Guest of Honor during the Inaugural Meeting of the JCGC, Hon. Felipe A. Judan, the Undersecretary for the maritime Sector of the Department of Transportation, delivered the keynote address. He expressed his strong support for the Coast Guard Diplomacy advocated by the Philippines and China Coast Guards. He noted that mutual understanding, cooperation, and friendship between the Coast Guards contribute to further strengthening of bilateral relations of the two countries.

At the inaugural meeting, both sides recognized the significance of coast guard diplomacy. The JCGC adopted the Implementing Guidelines of the MOU and the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Working Groups established to assist in the work of the Committee. Both sides agreed to cooperate in the sectors of preventing and combating drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, search and rescue (SAR), environment protection and emergency response through, among other modalities, information exchange and pragmatic empowerment activities unique for coast guards and enforcement agencies.

Both sides also established a hotline mechanism to facilitate communications in agreed areas.

To enhance and cooperation between the two maritime law enforcement agencies, both sides agreed to conduct bilateral exchange activities in 2017, including high-level visits, maritime operations and related exercises, vessel visits and capacity building. The CCG also invited PCG officials for a high-level visit to China at an appropriate time in 2017.

After the meetings, the two sides signed the Record of Discussion.

The Office of the Foreign Affairs Leading Groups of the CPC Central Committee, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participated in the meetings. END