Duterte-Li meeting: PHL, China agree to maintain peace in disputed waters

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, agreeing to work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Li said the Philippines is an important cooperation partner of China in Southeast Asia.

He welcomed the progress in bilateral relations over the past three years and said China stands ready to work with the Philippines to promote the lasting, stable and healthy development of bilateral relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

China will work together with the Philippines and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to adopt the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and promote maritime oil and gas exploration during the period when the Philippines is the coordinator of the China-ASEAN relations, aiming to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region, Li said.

Duterte said the Philippines will never confront China, and is ready to work with China to push forward the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and promote the joint maritime oil and gas exploration.

Western countries are not negotiators of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and should not hinder efforts of countries in the region, said the Philippine president.

Duterte is on a visit to China from Aug 28 to Sept 1, at the invitation of Chinese president. This is his fifth visit to China since he took office three years ago.

Later on Friday, he will attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup in Beijing. —Reuters