Aquino to visit China end of August

President Benigno Aquino lll. AP photo

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino will visit China at the end of this month amid tensions over conflicting territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

Aquino will hold his first summit meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao during the trip, from August 30 to September 3, the DFA said in a statement.

Some of the issues on the agenda will be measures to boost trade, tourism, education and cultural ties, the statement said.

The statement made no mention of a rise in tensions between the two nations this year over their conflicting claims to areas of the potentially resource-rich Spratly Islands.

The Philippines has repeatedly complained that China has become more aggressive in enforcing its claims to the waters.

Aquino in June publicly called for help from longtime ally the United States to help contain China’s alleged aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea.