PNoy, new Chinese envoy meet amid sea row

MANILA, Philippines - China's new ambassador to the Philippines on Tuesday presented his credentials to Pres. Benigno Aquino III amid the continuing territorial disputes between the two nations.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the meeting between the President and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua "went well."

Valte said the President and the Chinese official both agreed that the long-standing maritime dispute should not affect the "multi-faceted" relationships between the two countries.

"I'm told that the atmosphere was very cordial during the 15 minutes that the president conversed with the new ambassador. Both sides agreed that the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea is not the totality of our relationship with our neighbor," Valte said at a televised press conference.

Saying the territorial dispute is just a portion of the Philippine-China relations, Valte said two officials reaffirmed their nations' commitment to move forward with other fields, particularly trade, tourism, transnational crimes, among others.

"We see no reason why other segments of the relationship cannot move forward because of that one," Valte said.

Beijing is claiming practically the entire South China Sea despite the respective claims of other nations in the region.

The Philippines last month submitted its memorial to an international tribunal presenting evidence for its territorial claims.