China and the Philippines said on Tuesday that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo held fruitful and meaningful discussions on the relations between China and the Philippines as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest during the official visit to the Philippines by Premier Wen from Jan. 15 to 16.

A joint statement issued by the governments of the two countries at the end of the official visit said the two leaders reaffirmed the principles enshrined in the 1975 Joint Communique of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, which established diplomatic relations between them.

They also reiterated their commitment to the Joint Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the 21st Century signed between the two sides on May 14, 2000 and the Joint Statement issued during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the Philippines on April 28, 2005, said the joint statement.

"Noting with satisfaction the progress of their cooperation and dialogue in the political, security, defense, economic, trade, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, energy, mining, socio-cultural, health, education, and other fields, the two leaders reaffirmed that China-Philippine relations are at a golden age of partnership, " it said.

The two leaders also acknowledged that the development of China- Philippine relations had brought real benefits to the two countries and peoples and contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, it said.

The two leaders agreed to take further steps to deepen the strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development between China and the Philippines, it said.

Towards this end, they directed their respective foreign ministries to formulate a joint action plan that will guide strategic cooperation in all fields. They agreed that the joint action plan should be consistent with the respective development strategies of the two countries and the regional cooperation process, said the joint statement.

Premier Wen and President Arroyo expressed pleasure that the growing number of high-level visits and people-to-people exchanges has led to better understanding and closer relations between the two countries and peoples.

They agreed to encourage more exchanges, especially among parliamentarians, local government officials, youth, entrepreneurs, educators, media practitioners, and artists, it said.

Both sides expressed optimism that given the current growth rate of bilateral trade, the 30 billion U.S. dollar trade volume targeted for 2010 will be attained earlier. Both sides agreed to further expand trade volume, improve trade structure, promote mutual investments and actively explore new areas of economic cooperation, it added.

They declared that with the signing the Framework Agreement on Expanding and Deepening Bilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, bilateral economic and trade cooperation would intensify within the next ten years, said the joint statement.

The two sides will further enhance cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, fisheries, public works and infrastructure, housing, mining, energy, manufacturing, textiles and garments, industrial parks and economic development zones, tourism, ICT- based education, container inspection machines and trade promotion, it said.

Source: Xinhua