Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the common interests and the need for cooperation between China and the Philippines far outweigh the differences. In Friday's meeting with visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Li Keqiang called for joint efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability in the South China Sea. 

Hailing the Philippines as China's important cooperative partner in Southeast Asia, Li pointed out that the bilateral ties smoothly realized taking an upturn and scoring consolidation and uplift, and have continuously achieved tangible outcomes, during President Duterte's administration over the past three years.

Li said China is seeking a better synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" program, so as to promote sustained, stable, and healthy development of bilateral relations and cooperation.

"We are willing to cooperate with the Philippines on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit," he stressed.  

Leaders renew pledge for peaceful resolutions over South China Sea 

Li said that the current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and the regional countries are living in peace.

China is willing to work together with the Philippines and ASEAN countries to achieve a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea during the period when the Philippines serves as a coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations, he said, calling for joint efforts from both sides to promote offshore oil and gas development and safeguard peace and stability in the region. 

Duterte held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday during which Xi called for proper handling of the South China Sea issue and an expeditious completion of the COC.

Negotiations on the COC were formally launched in September 2013, and the first reading of a Single Draft Negotiating Text was completed ahead of schedule last month.

For his part, Duterte said the Philippines will never take a confrontational approach towards China.

On the South China Sea issue, Duterte said Western countries are not COC negotiators and should not hinder the efforts of regional countries in this regard. He said the Philippines now is fulfilling its responsibilities as a coordinating country for China-ASEAN relations.

"I am willing to work with China and ASEAN countries to actively promote the adoption of the COC during my term of office," Duterte said. 

He also expressed the willingness to push forward common development with China on offshore oil and gas, as well as to further expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such fields as the economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges for the benefits of the two countries and their peoples. 

This is Duterte's fifth visit to China since he took office three years ago. His trip will run from August 28 to September 1.