Aquino hopes to mend ties with China via party-to-party dialogue

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Friday hoped that party-to-party dialogue attended by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II in China will help resolve the country's long standing territorial dispute with the East Asian state over the West Philippine Sea.

In an ambush interview in Nueva Ecija, Aquino said as president of the administration's Liberal Party, Roxas was sent to Nanning, China to meet with Chinese officials regarding the lingering territorial dispute.

"It appears that they wanted a party-to-party dialogue that's why they asked for Secretary Roxas to be sent there," the Chief Executive said. "China is a one-party state. Mar Roxas is president of the party that I belong to."

Roxas left for China Wednesday night to attend the 9th China-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo or Caexpo, which will be held from September 21 to 25.

He is expected to meet with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is set to succeed Hu Jintao as head of China's ruling Communist Party.

"My instruction to Senator Roxas is simple, to make sure that he will relay our views to the highest levels of the leadership of the People's Republic of China. To ensure that there is no lost in translation," he said.

"To make it clear to them where we are coming from, what's our hesitations and expectations. We want to make sure that all these things are transmitted to them. If they respond good, if not, it's okay as long as we know that we have relayed to them our stand," he added.

Aquino said dealing with Chinese officials on the issue of the West Philippine Sea would be an addition to the duty of Roxas.

But he clarified that other Cabinet officials will also be tasked to deal with China depending on the nature of the event that needed to be attended.

Roxas was accompanied by presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda during his visit to China as recommended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)