The Philippines and China have agreed to resume bilateral "dialogue and consultation" to properly resolve the thorny dispute in the South China Sea. The consensus was reached during the historic meeting between President Xi Jinping as they moved to bring diplomatic relations "back to the track of friendship." The planned revival of the bilateral dialogue comes after an international arbitration nullified China's expansive territorial claims over the resource-rich South China Sea in a case lodged by the Philippines. President Duterte had earlier said he would not raise the country's claims out of respects for the Chinese hosts but would not allow any bargaining of the territory during the talks.

Kabiling, G. D. (2016, October 21). Manila, Beijing agree to resume talks on South China Sea dispute. Manila Bulletin, p. 16.