BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese scholar on Thursday urged the Philippines to engage in bilateral talks with China to resolve their South China Sea dispute as its incoming administration expressed willingness to bring the maritime issues back to the negotiating table.
The attitude of the Philippines' new administration over the handling of the South China Sea dispute could serve as a start for seeking a bilateral solution to relevant issues, Zhou Yongsheng, professor with China Foreign Affairs University, told Xinhua in an interview.
On Tuesday, Perfecto Yasay, the Philippines' incoming foreign minister, stressed the new administration's willingness to pursue bilateral talks with China to resolve their dispute in the South China Sea.
On a separate occasion, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was on a visit to Canada, expressed China's welcome if Manila sincerely wants to come back to the track of dialogue and negotiations.
The positive signals sent by the two sides could be used to help bring the South China Sea dispute back to the negotiating table, said Zhou.
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