AHEAD of the scheduled bilateral talks between the Philippines and China on maritime dispute, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is optimistic that both countries would peacefully settle the disputes through negotiation.
"We look forward to the inaugural meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea later this month. This is one step forward in peacefully managing disputes," the President told reporters in Davao City upon his return from his official visit to China.
The bilateral negotiation on the South China Sea disputes on May 19 was agreed between the Philippines and China during Duterte's first state visit in Beijing in October last year.
Duterte made a second visit to China to attend the Belt and Road Forum but he continued to play down the arbitral court's ruling that backs the Philippines' 2013 petition contesting China's claim to the disputed waters.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands affirmed the Philippines' case that China has no historic rights to lay claim on the contested waters.
Maintaining his stance to push for rapprochement with China to improve the Philippines' economic status, the Chief Executive reiterated that he could not pick a fight with China and it not proper time yet to uphold the South China Sea arbitration ruling.
"We avoid violence and we avoid war because frankly, we cannot afford it and China cannot afford it also. It will only sow rift between the two of us," Duterte said.
"There is a time for me to ask about the arbitral ruling but it is not now. We have to go into the mechanics. We have to have an agenda, the structure of the meeting and the way how to present the case to them first because we agreed to talk, to have a dialogue," he added.
During his latest visit to China, Duterte met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang but there was no mention of the international court’s decision on the South China Sea.
The President, in a prepared speech, said they merely reaffirmed their commitment to renew their "friendship and mutually beneficial partnership on a broad range of areas."
He added that they agreed to accelerate the implementation of infrastructure projects agreed on his visit last year.
"0We resolved to fully use the mechanisms we have established to dialogue openly, monitor progress and ensure implementation of projects," he said.
Duterte’s official visit to China also sealed four bilateral agreements, including the agreement on economic and technical cooperation; memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in human resource development; MOU on energy cooperation; and MOU on news and publishing.
The agreement on economic and technical cooperation will serve as the basis in implementing China’s grant of 400 million yuan to the Philippines for feasibility studies for major projects, construction of the drug abuse treatment, and rehabilitation center and bridges crossing the Pasig River.
The MOU in cooperation on human resource, signed by the National Economic and Development Authority and China’s Ministry of Commerce, is the two countries’ framework to strengthen cooperation in human resource development and promoting personnel exchanges.
Through the MOU on energy cooperation, China and the Philippines will have strengthened ties in the electric power, and oil and natural gas sectors.
The objective of MOU on news and publishing is to allow two countries to enhance their capabilities in the filed of international communication and publishing, as well as to undertake joint or individual activities and programs that help strengthen cooperation between their news organizations.
Duterte said he is thankful that China is "sincere" in helping his administration.
"I'm very happy that they are sincere. They are really there to comply with their commitments to us," he said. (SunStar Philippines)