PH, China Hold 8th Consular Consultations Meeting
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Neil Frank R. Ferrer (right) exchanges tokens with Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Department of Consular Affairs Counselor Meng Yuhong (left) at the conclusion of the 8th Philippines-China Consular Consultations Meeting. (DFA-OSCR photo by Philip Fernandez)
30 July 2019 — The Philippines and China strengthened its cooperation on consular matters as it concluded the 8th Philippines-China Consular Consultations Meeting held in Manila on 24 July 2019.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Neil Frank R. Ferrer and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Consular Affairs Department Counselor Meng Yuhong led the Philippine and Chinese delegations, respectively.
Joining Assistant Secretary Ferrer in the Philippine delegation were officials from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and Philippine Consulates General in China, other Department of Foreign Affairs officials and representatives from the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police.
The two delegations discussed matters pertaining to consular relations between the Philippines and China, including topics such as facilitation of people-to-people exchanges, the general conditions of Chinese and Filipino nationals in their host countries and the protection of the lawful rights and interests of citizens in the territory of the other State.
The Consular Consultations Meeting is an annual dialogue between the two countries in order to enhance bilateral people-to-people exchanges and resolve pressing consular issues.
The previous Meeting was held in Beijing in June 2018, and China will host the 9th Consular Consultations Meeting next year. END
Assistant Secretary Ferrer and Counselor Meng (seated, fourth and fifth from left. respectively) with the Philippine and Chinese delegations at the 8th Philippines-China Consular Consultations Meeting on 24 July 2019 in Manila, Philippines (DFA-OSCR photo by Philip Fernandez)
Assistant Secretary Ferrer discusses consular matters with Counselor Meng