Locsin, Chinese envoy tackle oil and gas dev’t in New Year reception

January 4, 2020

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian discussed the proposed oil and gas development between the Philippines and China at a New Year reception on Thursday.

At the invitation of the Chinese envoy, Locsin came to the diplomat's residence with other senior Philippine foreign affairs officials to mark the New Year.

"The two sides discussed a wide-range of issues of mutual interest, including oil and gas development as well as major infrastructure projects," a statement issued by the Chinese embassy on Friday said.

The two officials vowed to "embrace new development opportunities" and "agreed to work jointly in the spirit of seizing the day and living it to the full to push for further substantive progress in bilateral cooperation across the board."

Manila and Beijing are looking into  exploring oil and gas in undetermined areas in the West Philippine Sea, which may include the Reed Bank, within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone, but being claimed by China.

Both sides signed in August 2019 a Terms of Reference that outlines arrangements how talks will be conducted.

Part of the Terms of Reference is crafting a steering committee to oversee the talks.

The committee met in Beijing in October, but no details were agreed.

Reed Bank is the lone replacement for Malampaya, which supplies 40 percent of the energy requirement of Luzon region. DMS