Relations between China and the Philippines are at a new turning point, and Beijing hopes Manila can meet it halfway and handle disputes appropriately, a top Chinese diplomat has told a visiting Philippine delegation. China and the Philippines have been involved in an increasingly ugly territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually, while Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have rival claims. "At present, China-Philippine relations are at a new turning point," the statement quoted Liu as saying. China "hopes the Philippines side can meet China halfway, appropriately handle disputes and push relations back onto the track of dialogue, consultation and friendly cooperation", he said.

Source: Thanhnien News September 14, 2016 01:52 UTC