Mending a hurt relationship

Meeting of minds: Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos with Xi and his wife Peng Li Yuan during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — Reuters

China and the Philippines said in a joint statement they have agreed to set up a direct communications channel between their foreign ministries on the South China Sea to handle disputes peacefully.

The joint statement, which contained 14 agreements aimed at cooling security tensions and boosting economic cooperation, comes as both sides strive to mend a relationship hurt after the Philippines sought a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.