The Philippines and China have started the rounds of consultations on the South China Sea, which would play a big role in ensuring the diplomacy between the two countries fighting for territorial sovereignty.

At the opening session of the 23rd Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) in Manila on Thursday, high ranking diplomats of the two countries both called to maintain friendly relations between Manila and Beijing for the benefit of its peoples amid differences.

Their sentiment aimed to build on the mutual understanding reached by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, when they discussed matters on the South China Sea during the Philippine leader's visit to Beijing in January.

"Through this consultation, the foreign ministry consultations, we hope to translate the outcomes of the state visit into concrete and high impact engagements that are mutually beneficial for our two countries and peoples," Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in her remark.

"We need to comprehensively deepen our comprehensive strategic cooperation and enhance our cooperation in various practical areas and properly deal with our differences through friendly consultation. And we need to keep to the general direction of friendly relations between our two countries," Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, speaking with an English interpreter, said.

Aimed at reviewing the overall relations of Philippine-China cooperation, FMC is the first of the two meetings set this year between the two countries.

It would be followed on Friday with the 7th Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM), which will cover "maritime issues of concern to either side, including developments in the West Philippine Sea, and areas of possible maritime cooperation and confidence-building," according to DFA.

With Manila's successive yet unfruitful diplomatic protests against Beijing, FMC and BCM are among the mechanisms between the two countries to maintain diplomacy while handling disputes over the South China Sea.

In a press conference in China, Wang Wenbin, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, hoped that these consultations would help enhance the understanding and trust between the two countries.

He also hoped that they would "bring about closer communication and coordination between the two sides, and galvanize joint efforts for the sound and steady growth of bilateral ties."

The Philippines is fighting for its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling; while China is unilaterally claiming the whole South China Sea by citing its historic yet legally-unaccepted nine-dash line.

Over China's aggression in the South China Sea and its incursion into the West Philippine Sea, Lazaro disclosed that she and Sun already spoke and had "brief and candid exchange" several weeks ago.

Lazaro said she looked forward to working with her fellow diplomat in sustaining the growth of Philippine-China relations.

Sun responded as saying: "We hope that today's consultation will lay a favorable atmosphere for tomorrow's discussions."

"In light of this fast changing international landscape, China stands ready to work with countries in the neighborhood, including the Philippines to enhance our solidarity and cooperation, communication and coordination to jointly uphold our shared interests and peace and stability of the region," he added.

The last FMC was held in 2019 while the last BCM happened in 2021.