China, Philippines agree to improve communication, manage conflicts in South China Sea

National flags are placed outside a room where Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng address reporters after their meeting in Beijing, China, January 23, 2017. (Reuters/Damir Sagolj/File Photo)

 China and Philippines foreign affairs officials agreed to improve maritime communication and to properly manage conflicts and differences through friendly talks in regards to issues around the South China Sea, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday.

China Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Philippines Foreign Ministry undersecretary Theresa Lazaro held a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the current situation while co-chairing the eighth meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea in Shanghai, according to the statement.

— Reporting by Bernard Orr and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Leslie Adler

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