Indeed, the Philippines' new ambassador to China, Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, is optimistic about the future relations between China and the Philippines.

In a message to Xinhua, Sta. Romana said Sino-Philippine cooperation is "improving," and that "prospects are bright for further development of Philippine-China ties in 2017."

"Philippines-China relations have entered a new chapter after the successful state visit of Duterte to China last October," Sta. Romana said in a statement.

He said diplomatic ties between Beijing and Manila "are improving with the resumption of bilateral talks between the two governments."

China is at odds with a number of its Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, over disputed claims in the South China Sea, through which 5-trillion-U.S.-dollars-worth of ship-borne trade passes each year.

However, Sta. Romana said the sea dispute "should not be and will not be an obstacle to the development of bilateral ties" between the two countries.

"The focus and the key driver of Philippines-China relations under the Duterte administration will be economic, trade and finance," he stressed, adding that "economic cooperation, not disputes, will drive Philippines-China relations."

"the disputes will not disappear overnight but there will be direct talks and bilateral talks to resolve them peacefully."

Sta. Romana said the Philippines "has shifted to seeking better political and economic ties with China but is not seeking a military alliance."

【国际英语资讯:Yearender: Manila ushers in new era of Sino-Philippine relations under Duterte as China exten】相关文章：

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