On October 16, the 3rd Roundtable on China-Philippines Relations, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations (PCFR), was successfully held via video link. About 25 delegates from both sides, headed by Mr. Wang Chao, President of the CPIFA and Mr. Rafael Alunan III, Chairman of the PCFR and former Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government and Tourism, attended the meeting.

The theme of the Roundtable was “45th Anniversary: New Starting Point for China-Philippines Relations”. Delegates had in-depth and frank discussions on the topics of “China-Philippines Cooperation in the Post Pandemic Era” and “Jointly Safeguard Peace and Stability of the South China Sea”. President Wang Chao and Mr. Alejandro T. Flores Jr., President of the PCFR, delivered opening remarks. Amb. Yang Yanyi, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former Ambassador to the EU and Brunei, and Chairman Alunan gave keynote speeches at the first session. Dr. Wu Shicun, President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, and Mr. Rommel Ong, Rear Admiral (Ret.) gave keynote speeches at the second session, during which Prof. Chi Fulin, President of the China Institute for Reform and Development, proposed “Pan-South China Sea Economic Cooperation Circle”, to promote cooperation in the South China Sea.

The roundtable was jointly founded by CPIFA and PCFR, aiming to provide a platform for both sides to discuss issues of common concern and enhance mutual understanding and trust.