1st LD Writethru: Xi, Duterte agree to further improve ties, boost cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte, met here Saturday and pledged to further promote bilateral ties and strive for more cooperation fruits.

Talking on the sidelines of the 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi praised Duterte's visit to China last month, saying it achieved full improvement of China-Philippines relations, opened a new chapter for bilateral ties and injected positive energy into regional peace and stability.

China and the Philippines, Xi said, should steadily carry forward their relations in the right direction, and commit to friendly cooperation, proper management of their differences and common development, so as to further push forward their good-neighborly friendship and cooperation and benefit the two peoples with more cooperation fruits.

Noting that China and the Philippines are faced with a new situation, the Chinese president called on both sides to boost exchanges at all levels, exchange views on major issues of common concern in a timely manner, and restore bilateral mechanisms in various fields, in order to enhance mutual trust and cooperation.

On maritime issues, Xi urged the two sides to actively mull maritime cooperation and promote positive interaction on the sea, and thus jointly transform the South China Sea issue into an opportunity for bilateral friendly cooperation.

China and the Philippines should also encourage non-governmental groups to participate in cooperation, facilitate the convergence of the two nations' interests through people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in such fields as culture, education, health care and youth, Xi said.

Noting that the Philippines will take over the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, Xi said China is willing to work with the Philippines to promote the development of China-ASEAN ties and East Asia cooperation.

Both as developing economies of APEC, China stands ready to join hands with the Philippines and other members to focus on economic cooperation and make the Lima APEC meeting a success, he said.

For his part, Duterte spoke highly of his successful visit to China last month, saying it produced rich results.

The Philippines follows an independent foreign policy and is willing to be friends with "brotherly" China forever, said the president.

Duterte also extended gratitude for China's assistance to his country's development, pledging to enhance cooperation with China in various fields including infrastructure construction.

Noting that the Philippines and China share similar views on many issues, he said the two sides should conduct closer communication and coordination, jointly push for regional development in Asia and promote peace, prosperity and justice for the world.

The Philippines, he added, is willing to properly address maritime issues with China through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly safeguard the momentum of improvement and development in bilateral relations.

Duterte paid a state visit to China in October. It was his first official visit to a foreign country outside ASEAN since he took office in June.

In their meeting last month, the two leaders agreed that their countries would properly handle differences and achieve full improvement and greater progress in bilateral ties. Endi