BCM/FMC Talks Conclude in Quanzhou with 'Initial Exchanges' on Oil and Gas Cooperation

Philippines-China BCM and FMC talks concluded in Quanzhou on March 28. Both sides agreed on 'initial exchanges on potential oil and gas cooperation,' discussed coast guard-to-coast guard communication frameworks, ocean meteorology, green energy, trade, agriculture, and fertilizer supply chains. Both delegations agreed to convene a foreign ministers' meeting 'within the year.' China's Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong called for 'concrete actions' from Manila to translate goodwill into results. The DFA (in its March 29 readout) described the talks as a 'frank and thorough exchange.' US News/Reuters reported that 'Manila and Beijing resumed talks on South China Sea and energy security' — the first substantive bilateral consultations on the disputed waters in over two years.