He also met Professor Wu Shicun, president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies “in a friendly atmosphere”.
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But the Chinese panel headed by former ambassador to Manila Fu Ying simply noted the Philippine mission’s concern while agreeing on the need for both parties to engage in further talks aimed at building trust and confidence to reduce tensions in the region and pave the way for greater cooperation.
Japan and China are locked in a long-running dispute over uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, while Manila and Beijing have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has sought to strengthen ties with former World War II foe Japan as it faces a tense maritime dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea.
Soon after he entered office at the end of June, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Ramos as a special envoy to China.
At the centre of the conflict between China and the Philippines is Scarborough Shoal which is called as Huangyan Island by China in the SCS over which the global tribunal last month upheld the Philippines right and struck down Beijing’s claims on nearly of the SCS.
“It’s not really a breakthrough, in a sense that there is no ice here in Hong Kong to break, but the fish we eat. are cooked in delicious recipes”, said Ramos, who also had earlier referred to his visit as a fishing expedition.
In its July 12 ruling, the five-member Arbitral Tribunal upheld Manila’s position that China’s “nine-dash line” maritime claim is excessive and encroached into the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea where about $5 trillion worth of trade passes every year.
The statement listed seven topics that had been covered, including marine preservation and co-operation on crime-fighting and smuggling.
The statement said the discussions were held in a private capacity, and Ramos said later other back channel talks with China were underway. No time frame was given for possible talks.
Ohtaka also said Japan remained committed to the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in dealing with China for a peaceful settlement of the disputes.
Ramos said he discussed restoring the previous situation where Chinese, Filipino and even Vietnamese fishermen freely plied their trade in the Scarborough Shoal.
“There was no discussion on that particular aspect, except to mention equal fishing rights”, said Ramos.
Officials said some of the Chinese ships left following the accident, and the Chinese side thanked Japan for its rescue efforts.
China seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, denying Philippine fishermen access.
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“The worldwide community will have to stay firm on this, any weakness can be another message to the other side”, Ohtaka told reporters in an interview at a hotel in Manila. Mr Ramos was president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, when China occupied the submerged Mischief Reef.
