Manila, Beijing avoid Spratlys

Manila, Beijing avoid Spratlys

MANILA (DPA): The defense ministers of the Philippines and
China avoided discussing their nations' rival claims to the
Spratly Islands at a meeting in Manila yesterday, but both later
reiterated their commitments on peacefully resolving the dispute.

Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian told reporters that he
did not discuss the Spratlys issue with his Philippine
counterpart but he went on to note that a peaceful resolution of
the issue would be "beneficial to the stability and peace in the
Asia-Pacific region".

Chi added that, during his meeting with Philippine Defense
Secretary Renato de Villa, he proposed more joint activities
between the Chinese and Philippine armed forces in a bid to
foster friendly defense contacts between the two countries.

"Mr de Villa and I believe that we should try our best to push
forward our friendship and improve the relations of the two armed
forces to a higher and new level," said Chi, who arrived for a
seven-day visit last Friday.