The Philippines wants to expand and deepen relations with China, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday as officials from the two countries signed four agreements in an indication of further normalization of ties despite a dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Duterte assured Chinese President Xi Jinping that he would pursue peaceful means to resolve the maritime row, as he welcomed the opening of bilateral consultations on the dispute later this week. Manila and Beijing inked four memoranda of understanding covering communications, economic and technical cooperation, human resource, and energy.

Valente, C. (2017, May 16). Duterte seeks deeper relations with China. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.