China and the Philippines reaffirmed Friday their commitment to working out a peaceful and amicable settlement of their differences on the South China Sea issue.

Visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng and his Filipino counterpart Speaker of the House Jose De Venecia agreed during their meeting that the two nations have in recent years contributed significantly to regional stability by maintaining good communication and coordination on the issue.

The Philippines side in recent years has made territorial claims over China's Huangyan Island based on its claimed 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. However, both sides agreed to solve the dispute through negotiation and coordination.

On the sensitive issues of common concern to Southeast Asian countries, China and the Philippines have expressed on many occasions that they promote the adoption of the proposed Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by China and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Two days after the first anniversary of the September 11 incident, China and the Philippines Friday pledged their staunch support of the international campaign against terrorism.

In a later press conference, when asked to comment on their stance on anti-terrorism, Li said that China understands and supports the campaign the Philippines is waging against terrorism and said China, as a victim of terrorism itself, is always against terrorism, adding that the United Nations has the key role in the campaign.

De Venecia expressed to Li his personal appreciation of the Chinese Government's continued attention to the welfare of the 140,000 Filipino contract workers in Hong Kong.

Friday Li also met with acting President of the Senate Juan Flavier. Li is expected to meet President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Saturday.

(China Daily September 14, 2002)