President Duterte, Xi agree to pursue bilateral talks to settle WPS dispute

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 20): President Duterte, Xi agree to pursue bilateral talks to settle WPS dispute

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin announced on Thursday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed that the two countries will return to track of dialogue and consultation to settle dispute in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.

”The two sides agreed that they will come back to what they have agreed five years ago that is to pursue bilateral dialogue and consultation in seeking proper settlement of the South China Sea issue,” the Chinese foreign official said in a press conference in Beijing.

”This in itself signifies a new stage of maritime cooperation between the two countries. China is ready for discussions with our friends in the Philippines on maritime cooperation and cooperation in many other areas,” he added.

Liu said the details will be further discussed by the responsible authorities of both countries after the ongoing state visit of President Duterte in China.

”Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issue is not the sum total of the bilateral relations between the two countries,” he said.

The Chinese foreign official said the two heads of state did not tackle the Scarborough Shoal or Huangyan Island but “they did talk about the cooperation in fishery.”

”They agreed that the two countries will strengthen fishery cooperation in the South China Sea and also cooperation in terms of fishery products, industries,” Liu said.

”China will support the Philippines in developing aqua-culture, fishery products processing so as to help deliver a better life for the fishermen of the Philippines,” he added.

Liu said the two sides will have a more exchange of views on the fishery cooperation and China will make proper arrangements.

”In one word, in this visit bilateral relations have fully recovered and two countries will return to track of dialogue and consultation to address maritime issues,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=933232