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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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SFA-AGR-306-08 |
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RP CONCLUDES 1ST ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR CONSULAR AGREEMENT WITH CHINA |
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06 May 2008 - Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr. led the Philippine delegation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing during the first round of negotiations for a consular agreement with the People’s Republic of China on 18 April 2008 in Beijing.
The negotiations were held on the heels of the 4th RP-China Consular Consultations hosted by the Philippines last month.
In his opening statement, Assistant Secretary Lucenario expressed confidence that the negotiation process would be completed soon and that the proposed RP-China Consular Agreement would be signed during a high level visit between the two countries. He added that the conclusion of the agreement would be a positive step in resolving sensitive issues.
The proposed agreement covers a wide range of consular issues, particularly long-standing concerns that affect Philippine missions in carrying out assistance to nationals (e.g., notification of arrests and detention, repatriation and settlement of disputes).
This is the first consular agreement the Philippines has negotiated with another country. When signed, the proposed agreement would be the third consular agreement to be signed by China with an ASEAN country, after Laos and Vietnam.
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