Vietnamese FM arrives in Manila

Vietnamese FM arrives in Manila

MANILA (Reuter): Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam arrived in Manila yesterday for a three-day visit expected to include talks with Philippine officials on the disputed Spratly islands.

"I'm very happy to come over to Manila. I hope this session will promote the growth and development of relations between our two countries," he told reporters upon his arrival.

He is to meet with Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo to discuss a possible joint marine research project in the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines said earlier it has sent a navy ship to the Spratlys to check reports China has set up a military base in the area.

China claims sovereignty over the entire islands which are believed to sit atop potentially rich deposits of oil and gas. Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim sovereignty over all or part of the Spratlys.