Philippines hopes for dialogue with China

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is still hoping to hold a dialogue with China after he failed to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Russia.

In an interview at an event in Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday, the President said the treatment of China to the Philippines seemed to be "less cold than what it was."

"I am still hoping that we will have a dialogue where we could have a heart-to-heart talk and sharing of all of our thoughts in total honesty and openness," Aquino said.

"So that seems to be the way forward to settle all of these things," he added.

The President said he believes that China is receptive to the idea of moving forward.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Tuesday said the East Asian Summit could be the next venue where the meeting between Aquino and Hu could take place. It will be held in Cambodia in November.

The two leaders failed to set up a meeting at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation over the weekend due to tight schedules of the two leaders.

The meeting would have been the first since the tension over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea escalated in April. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)