Talks with Manila at early date expected

China said on Thursday it expects talks to be held between Beijing and Manila "at an early date", after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that talks on the South China Sea dispute are likely within a year.

Speaking to reporters in Manila, Duterte said it was "better to continually engage China in a diplomatic dialogue rather than anger officials there".

He also said the Philippines had no intention of raising the arbitration case over the South China Sea during a regional summit to be held in Laos next month, according to Reuters.