China and the Philippines are set to hold their first bilateral talks on the disputed South China Sea in May, a Chinese newspaper reported on Tuesday.
“China is willing to strengthen dialogue with the Philippines to properly manage and control differences and advance maritime cooperation, to create a favorable condition for pragmatic cooperation,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying in the South China Morning Post.
He added in the report that cooperation between the two maritime forces would allow for “new vitality” in bilateral ties.
The newspaper report added Beijing has invited the Philippine coastguard to visit China.