28 January 2005 – Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Teresita V.G. Barsana yesterday stressed the importance of greater consular cooperation between the Philippines and China to ensure that the rights of migrants are adequately protected.

In welcoming China’s delegation to the 2nd Round of Consular Consultations between the Philippines and China held at the DFA in Pasay City,  Assistant Secretary Barsana said: “Both our countries are faced with a burgeoning overseas migrant sector that must be afforded basic protection. The shrinking of our world into a global village has also given rise to transnational concerns that inevitably impact on the welfare and well-being of our respective communities thus necessitating a higher level of collaboration between our countries.”

Recalling the issues discussed during the inaugural consultations in Beijing, China in July 2002, senior consular officials from the two countries agreed to promote sustained dialogue and mutual discussions between their respective officials in resolving issues concerning illegal immigration, assistance to distressed nationals, and transnational crime. Both sides also provided each other with information on their respective immigration and visa policies.

“The issues and concerns of our Consultations dwell on the human dimension of our close and cordial ties,” Assistant Secretary Barsana told his counterpart Lou Tianguang, Director General of the Consular Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both countries exchanged information on illegal immigration, and agreed to undertake exchange visits between officials of their immigration departments to learn from each other’s border control regimes and best practices in dealing with illegal immigration.
 
Assistant Secretary Barsana likewise informed the Chinese delegation that the Philippines’ has completed its domestic requirements for the entry into force of the Agreement for the Mutual Visa Exemption for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports between the two countries. The Agreement, which was signed on 01 September 2004 during President Arroyo’s visit to China, will allow diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries to enter their respective territories without a visa for a period of thirty (30) days.

At the same time, both countries committed to work closely in combating transnational crimes particularly on drug trafficking and human smuggling. In this regard, the Philippines and China agreed to fast-track the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime signed on 30 October 2001.   In particular, the Philippines proposed an exchange of visits of senior police officials on an annual basis so that both countries could gain a better understanding of their respective law enforcement systems and exchange intelligence information.

The next round of the Consular Consultations between the two countries will be held in China. END
 

/jay