China is in close communication with the Philippines about the possible visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to China, - said on Friday at a news briefing by a Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang. Previously, the agency Reuters, citing sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines reported that Philippine diplomats are negotiating with counterparts from Japan and China about the possible visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to these countries at the end of October.

 "We have repeatedly said that President Duterte is welcomed the visit China, and we hope that he will be able to make it as soon as possible. Parties are in close communication on this matter." - Lou Kahn said.

China and several countries in the region - Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines - have differences over maritime boundaries and areas of responsibility in the South China and East China Seas. China believes that the Philippines and Vietnam have deliberately used the US support for the escalation of tension in the region.

Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on July 12 decided that China has no basis for territorial claims in the South China Sea within the "nine dotted lines". In addition, the court ruled that the disputed archipelago Spratly (Nansha) Islands don’t form any kind of the exclusive economic zone. China has already said he does not consider the actual decision of the arbitration, does not recognize and does not accept it.

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