China's Li tells Duterte he hopes ties can get back on normal track

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang applauds next to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte after they posed for a photo during the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Vientiane, Laos September 7, 2016. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte he hopes the two countries can work together to bring bilateral ties back to a normal track, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Friday.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday at a time of tension between China and the Philippines over disputed territory in the South China Sea.