January 18, 2021

China and the Philippines should not be distracted by their disputes in the South China Sea and should instead focus on advancing cooperation on oil and gas exploration in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said when wrapping up his week-long tour of Southeast Asia.

Wang’s trip, which also included stops in Myanmar, Indonesiaand Brunei, came with Beijing seeking to consolidate its ties with the region before the new US administration takes office this week.

In an interview with state media posted on the ministry’s website on Sunday, Wang highlighted China’s desire to move the focus away from maritime disputes to joint exploration of resources in the waters.

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