PHL, Vietnam share common stand on South China Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 7): PHL, Vietnam share common stand on South China Sea

President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung share the same stand on the issue of the South China Sea, agreeing that there must be freedom of navigation there.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella in an interview following the bilateral talks between the Philippines and Vietnam said "all are in agreement that there should be freedom of navigation," a "maritime freedom."

Both leaders, he said were in agreement that the area should be shared as it has always been used by everybody.

South China Sea serves as international trade path where billions of dollars worth of trading passes through.

The short meeting, which lasted for about 25 minutes, was more focused on getting to know each other and stressed of the positive relationship of the two countries.

Philippines and Vietnam share a history of trade relations, particularly on rice, which was also discussed during the bilateral talks.

The bilateral talks between the two countries is one of the three scheduled meetings of President Duterte on the first day of the 28th ASEAN Summit from Sept. 6 to 8.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=920699