Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Jose Rene Almendras met with China’s ambassador to the Philippines Monday to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries—except matters concerning the dispute in the South China Sea. The country’s new top diplomat described his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua as “OK and friendly.” almendras2-0322NEWLY appointed Foreign Secretary Jose Rene Almendras met with China’s ambassador to the Philippines Monday to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries—except matters concerning the dispute in the South China Sea. The country’s new top diplomat described his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua as “OK and friendly.” He said the South China Sea conflict was not taken up during the meeting, which was a courtesy call for the new DFA chief.

Calleja, N. P. (2016, March 22). Meet with Sino envoy excluded dispute. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.