Phl, Indonesia ink pact on EEZ boundary

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines and Indonesia signed today an agreement on the delimitation of their overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the Mindanao Sea and Celebes Sea.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa signed the agreement during ceremonies in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

The event was witnessed by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is currently in the country for a state visit.

The agreement was the result of 20 years of negotiation to delimit the overlapping EEZ of the two countries.

It includes annexed charts showing the EEZ boundary of the Philippines and Indonesia in the Mindanao Sea and Celebes Sea in the southern Philippines and in the Philippine Sea on the southern section of the Pacific Ocean.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the EEZ boundary pact is the first maritime boundary treaty of the Philippines.