China and the Philippines have agreed to continue maintaining communication through diplomatic channels to properly manage maritime differences, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday.
Lin Jian, the spokesman, made the remarks while briefing the media on a recent meeting between the two countries at a regular press conference in Beijing.
"Recently, officials from the Chinese and Philippine foreign ministries held bilateral talks in Cebu, the Philippines. The two sides exchanged candid and in-depth views on maritime issues and other issues of mutual concern. Both sides agreed to continue maintaining communication through diplomatic channels, properly manage maritime differences, and keep the situation in the South China sea under control," Lin added.
China, Philippines agree to continue maintaining communication through diplomatic channels: FM spokesman
Japan's real wages in 2025 dropped 1.3 percent from a year earlier, down for the fourth consecutive year as soaring prices erased pay hikes, government data showed Monday.
Nominal wages, or the average monthly cash earnings per worker including base and overtime pay, rose 2.3 percent last year to 355,919 yen (about 2,260 U.S. dollars), marking the fifth consecutive year of increase without considering inflation, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Meanwhile, consumer prices climbed 3.7 percent in the reporting year, accelerating from a 3.2 percent gain in the previous year, weighing on inflation-adjusted wages, a barometer of consumer purchasing power.
Real wages affect private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's gross domestic product.
In December alone, real wages at workplaces with five or more employees fell 0.1 percent from the previous year, down for the 12th straight month, while nominal wages rose 2.4 percent to 631,986 yen, up for the 48th straight month, the ministry said.
Japan's real wages in 2025 fall for 4th straight year amid surging prices
