At the invitation of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), a China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 5204 will pay a friendly visit to the Philippines on 13 to 17 January 2020. It is the first time a China Coast Guard vessel pays such a visit to the Philippines. During the visit, the two sides will conduct various activities such as cross deck visit, search and rescue and fire fighting exercises as well as friendly sports games. We believe that the visit will be a very good opportunity for both sides to demonstrate goodwill, deepen mutual understanding and trust as well as enhance friendship and cooperation.  

Back to back with the Vessel's port call, Commandant of China Coast Guard General Wang Zhongcai will lead a delegation to visit the Philippines. The Third Meeting of the Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) between China and the Philippines will also be held on 14 to 16 January.  

The JCGC was established in 2017 following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PCG and CCG on the establishment of the JCGC on Maritime Cooperation witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2016. In the past three years, the CCG and PCG have maintained close contact and frequent high level exchanges. A hotline between the two sides has been established to facilitate the communication in agreed areas. The two Coast Guards have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of combating transnational crime, maritime search and rescue, fishery law enforcement, environmental protection, and emergency response. We are fully confident that the high level visit and the third meeting will further enhance our mutual understanding and inject new impetus into the healthy and steady development of the China-Philippines relations, and contribute to the regional peace and stability.