On October 29, 2009, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during his visit to the Philippines, officially signed the Consular Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines with his Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo in Manila. This is China's third bilateral consular agreement with an ASEAN member following that with Laos and Vietnam. With articles mainly on how the sending State's consular officers could protect the right and interest of the sending State's citizens in the receiving State, the agreement will help both sides deepen consular cooperation and advance the development of friendly bilateral ties. After signing the agreement, the two countries will fulfill their respective legal approval procedures to make it go into effect as soon as possible.