Talks between Beijing and Manila 'at an early date'

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 he expects talks with China on their South China Sea dispute within a year.

Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace 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 the Reuters.

"We welcome Duterte's remarks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

He noted that China has always committed to solving disputes over the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with countries directly, including the Philippines, in order to maintain regional peace and stability.

"China and the Philippines are good neighbors, and we believe that both sides have the ability and also the wisdom to properly solve related issues and push the bilateral ties back to healthy development," Lu said.

"China expects that bilateral talks between the two sides could be conducted at an early date."