By Christina Mendez
BEIJING – President Duterte looks forward to “productive discussions” in the bilateral consultative mechanism on the South China Sea dispute to be held in Beijing next week.
Duterte called for a peaceful resolution of the disputes over territories in the South China Sea during his expanded bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the two-day Belt and Road Forum here.
“Since my state visit last year, the Philippines and China have seen the valued friendships become stronger,” he said.
Duterte then voiced his wish for “deeper” relations with Beijing while announcing positive developments arising from the creation of a bilateral consultative mechanism, a forum for discussing and finding ultimate solution to the South China Sea dispute.
“I look forward to productive discussions today to continue this positive engagement to further deepen our relations,” he said.
“We have resumed our regular dialogue mechanism. The Foreign Ministry consultations was finally reconvened in Manila this year to strengthen ties and to make use of that mechanism,” he said.
Duterte also stressed it is “important to keep our communication lines open.”
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