Fresh from a successful four-day state visit to China, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said that Beijing and Manila have agreed to hold future talks to settle their dispute over territories in the South China Sea.

Duterte said he did not raise the South China Sea issue during his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping saying it was not the "proper time" to do so.

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The Philippine leader said that his visit to China was meant to improve ties between Manila and Beijing, and seek investments to boost the country's economy.

Lines of communication

Xinhua reported that beside the economic cooperation agreements signed by both sides, the two nations have agreed to open lines of communication and revive their regular consultations which had been suspended for several years due to their dispute over the South China Sea.

Duterte, in a speech he delivered in Davao City upon returning home from Beijing, said his first official state visit to China "signaled a turning point" in the Sino-Philippine relations and showed that both sides are capable of working together despite their longtime dispute over the strategic waterway.

"My state visit to China signaled a turning point in our shared history and showed that both countries are fully capable of working together for mutual beneficial cooperation even as we remain committed to settle disputes peacefully, in full adherence to international law," Duterte said.

Very productive

Duterte said his meetings with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping, had been 'very productive' and that their discussions centered on the many aspects of "China-Philippine relations such as trade and investments, infrastructure and tourism as well as agriculture and health."

Citing the importance of peace and security as a precondition to economic growth, Duterte said Beijing and Manila have jointly reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining and promote peace through freedom of navigation and overflights in the South China Sea region.

"We acknowledged the need to address disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law," he said.

Confidence-building measures

The Philippine leader also said that both countries have agreed to establish confidence-building measures and revive the regular bilateral consultation mechanisms for the two sides to be able to discuss thorny issues and immediate concerns in the South China Sea.

Duterte said Beijing and Manila have signed a general cooperation agreement in a bid to lessen accidental incidents in the South China Sea and to maintain regional stability.

"With the shared objective of achieving greater growth and prosperity for our peoples, the Philippines and China jointly worked closely on building a robust economic agenda," Duterte said

He revealed that he had signed deals with the Chinese government and the private business sector worth US$24 billion to fund its infrastructure projects and invest in Manila's various industries,

"Mostly economic in nature, these agreements provide the framework with which to carry out intensified cooperation between the Philippines and China," Duterte emphasized.

TagsSouth China Sea Dispute, President Rodrigo Duterte, President Xi Jinping, economic cooperation, China visit, Philippines, china