Chinese envoy confirms reduced tensions

From: inquirer.net

China’s ambassador to the Philippines has confirmed reports that tensions between the government and the Philippines have eased after last week’s high-level talks between Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Chinese Vice President Xi Jingping on the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Ambassador Ma Keqing, speaking for the first time, said the “important meeting” between Roxas and Xi on Sept. 21 reduced tensions.

Ma acknowledged the Philippines as an important regional partner of China and said she hoped positive steps would continue toward the resolution of the sea dispute.

Ma also recognized the Philippines as an important neighbor in Asia which has had continued diplomatic ties with china in the last 37 years.

“The Philippines is an important neighbor to China. Amiable interactions between the Chinese and the Filipino people have forged affinity and kinship, which has withstood the test of history and time,” she said.

President Aquino had sent Roxas as his special envoy to the China-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo in Nanning last week to convey to the Chinese government what the Philippines is doing to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.

Reports, however, said “substantial gaps” in relations between the two countries remained after the meeting, which Roxas did not describe as a success. ###