MANILA ? President Benigno Aquino III brought up the territorial row over the Spratly Islands early Saturday at a leaders? meeting of the United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (US-ASEAN) in New York. Aquino cited the Spratly Islands row, in which the Philippines is one of the claimants, as one of the issues that must be addressed through peaceful means. ?Today the issue that occupies a growing concern is the competing territorial claims within the South China Sea, including our own Kalayaan Islands,? he said in a statement at the meeting. ?Such competing claims can serve as flashpoints for conflict as they did in the 1990s,? he added. Aquino also had a quick talk with US President Barack Obama II at the sidelines of the meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, government-run dzRB radio reported. But while the report did not give further details of what they discussed, it said Aquino and Obama were seated beside each other during the closed-door meeting. The Spratly Islands. a group of atolls and reefs in the South China Sea believed to be rich in natural resources, are being contested by China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and , Vietnam. Aquino said his administration remains committed to an agreement called the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that seeks to govern the dispute to avoid armed confrontation. ?I believe this is consistent with [US] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?s pronouncements on the South China Sea made in July of this year, supporting collaborative diplomatic processes,? Aquino said. ?As a peace-loving country, the Philippines supports any efforts to deal with potential irritants in the most peaceful way possible,? he added. On the other hand, he said the US has been the Philippines? staunchest partner in security cooperation in the region, and will remain so during his administration. He thanked the US for participating in joint counter-terrorism efforts in Mindanao; for its assistance and training programs for the Philippine military; and for its assistance in times of natural disasters. ?There are many more opportunities for us and the United States to work together on initiatives such as human rights cooperation, science and technology, biodiversity conservation, and disaster management to build a cohesive socio-cultural community,? Aquino said. Aquino also recognized the United States? commitment to reinvigorating its relationship with the ASEAN and individual nations. ?We, in turn, welcome this reinvigoration as it leads to timely clarity, allowing all of us to fully engage with each other,? he said. ?This can only lead to the fulfillment of our dreams for our peoples, which in the simplest possible terms is a better, more dignified life.? Aquino said he looks forward to developing a nautical highway to ensure that ?we remain connected to our neighbors in Southeast Asia.? He said the US and ASEAN?s common desire to firm up their partnership comes at a ?particularly crucial time.? Aquino noted that the US is a major trading partner of ASEAN, and the group in turn has been one of the fastest growing export markets and host of US investments. ?I am confident that the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement will lead to an economically viable and strong ASEAN which in turn will lead to economic growth, job creation, and improved welfare of our peoples,? he said. Obama thanked ASEAN leaders who attended the meeting, which he said reflects group?s growing importance and the unprecedented cooperation between the bloc and the US. ?As a Pacific nation, the United States has an enormous stake in the people and the future of Asia,? Obama said. ?The region is home to some of our largest trading partners and buys many of our exports, supporting millions of American jobs.? ? GMANews.TV __
