08BRIEF NEWS

Belt and Road Initiative with Laos' development strategy. Somkeo said Laos is willing to expand law enforcement and security cooperation with China.

China Mulls Economic Cooperation Zone in the Philippines

China will explore the possibility of establishing an economic and trade cooperation zone in the Philippines as part of the two countries' efforts to advance bilateral ties, Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesperson Sun Jiwen told a press conference on Nov. 17. According to the official, China is willing to increase imports from the Philippines and encourage Chinese firms to expand investment there.

The two countries will also sign a pact on economic and technological cooperation for the 2017-2022 period, and China will consider providing financial support for infrastructure projects in the Philippines, Sun said. The moves were discussed during a visit by an MOC delegation to the Philippines in mid-November, following the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders on economic cooperation during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's state visit to China in October, according to Sun.

Bilateral trade between China and the Philippines rose 4.2 percent year-on-year to US$38.6 billion in the first 10 months of 2016, customs data show.

Joint Patrol in Beibu Gulf

The coast guards from China and Vietnam concluded a three-day joint patrol mission in a common fishing zone in the Beibu Gulf on Nov. 9.

According to a China Coast Guard (CCG) statement, the coast guards of both sides completed a series of scheduled tasks, including a joint patrol, a maritime search and rescue exercise and examination of fishing boats, amid strong winds and high waves. The two sides also discussed law enforcement experiences and visited each other's ships.

This was the two countries' second joint patrol in 2016; the first being in April. Four coast guard ships were involved in the latest mission. Since 2006, the two countries have conducted 12 joint law enforcement exercises in the common fishing zone.

The latest mission will help the two sides' maritime search and rescue abilities and strengthen personnel communication and law enforcement cooperation, according to Liu Tianrong, the Chinese commander of the mission.