India, Jan. 30 -- The Philippines and China resumed a bilateral political dialogue on Thursday after "more than a year-long hiatus," said the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

The meeting, chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for Ocean Affairs Hou Yanqi, was held a day ahead of the next round of negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea between senior officials of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) here.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not provide specific details but said both sides had a candid exchange of views on bilateral relations, maritime-related matters, and regional and international issues of ...