OSLO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government and communist rebels on Friday agreed to implement a "unilateral" ceasefire for an indefinite period after week-long peace talks in Oslo to end Asia's longest-running insurgency.
The agreement was part of a joint declaration by the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), an umbrella organization of Marxist groups including the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New People's Army.
"In the course of a few days, the parties in the Philippine peace process have reached agreement on issues that have blocked progress for many years," said Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende, whose country has facilitated the peace process over the years.
"Among the most important points that have been agreed is that both parties will implement a unilateral ceasefire for an indefinite period," Brende said. "This has never before been achieved in this peace process and is regarded as a major breakthrough."
According to a statement from the Norwegian foreign ministry, the two parties have agreed to speed up the peace process and aim to reach the first substantial agreement on economic and social reforms within six months.
They plan to follow this up with an agreement on political and constitutional reforms, before a final agreement on ending the armed conflict can be signed, it added.
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