Xi tells Duterte that Scarborough Shoal will stay open to Philippine fishermen
Statement on disputed area comes as leaders meet on sidelines of the APEC conference in Lima, Peru
President Xi Jinping called on China and the Philippines to explore maritime cooperation and promised that Philippine fishermen will continue to have access to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
In a meeting with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru on Saturday, Xi said the sea should be turned into a symbol of cooperation.
The Philippine Presidential Communications Office said in a statement after the talks that the two leaders had discussed the plight of the country’s fishermen.
“The Chinese leader [vowed] that the fishermen will continue to have free access to their traditional fishing grounds, apart from offering them training such as in fish culture to sustain their livelihood and families,” the statement said.
Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying the two nations should move their relations in the right direction and commit to friendly cooperation, proper management of their differences and common development.