Wang will meet Philippines Foreign Secretary, Albert Del Rosario and other leaders on President Xi Jinping’s planned presence at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei told a news briefing here today.
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“What we are doing now is just finetuning all of the details that need to be done in an undertaking as huge as this”.
Mr Xi said in Singapore freedom of passage in the South China Sea “has never been a problem and will never be a problem”, but the islands there have always been Chinese.
Xi’s confirmation to the meeting has been awaited since tensions between the Philippines and China were on the high in the past years.
China and the United States have been embroiled in a row over the South China Sea, much of which is disputed between China and several U.S. allies.
Citing historical records and ancient maps, China claims almost all of the 3.5 million sq km South China Sea, through which US$5 trillion (S$7.1 trillion) in ship-borne trade passes every year.
“At present, because of reasons everyone knows about, Sino-Philippine relations are facing difficulties”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend an Asia-Pacific summit in the Philippines next week, officials said Monday, quashing the host’s concerns he would snub the event over a territorial dispute.
“China pays great attention to relations with the Philippines and is willing to appropriately resolve relevant issues on the basis of dialogue and negotiation”.
But Hong emphasised the onus rested on the Philippines to improve ties.
Aquino-he only son of the late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late former President Corazon Aquino-has four siblings: Ballsy Cruz, Pinky Abellada, Viel Dee and show business personality Kris Aquino.
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The Aquino sisters will attend to the spouses and take them on a tour of Intramuros in Manila on November 19.
