Philippines to meet with Vietnam on sea security

MANILA, Philippines - The country's top diplomats will meet with their Vietnamese counterparts Thursday to discuss possible cooperation in maritime security.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led by Secretary Albert del Rosario and the Vietnamese delegation led by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will also tackle defense mechanisms and initiatives in the area.

The two countries, both China's rival claimants on territories in the South China Sea, will also review an existing framework document on bilateral cooperation from 2011 to 2016, a DFA statement said.

The last round of Vietnam-Philippines talks was held in Vietnam in 2011, when foreign affairs officials discussed issues of mutual concern.

Like the Philippines, Vietnam has in the past year contended with China in the disputed region that has seen recent military posturing, particularly by Beijing

The Philippines' stake on the coastal territories has been raised in an international arbitration court under the United Nations, earning the ire of China, which insisted on bilateral negotiations.

Minh, who visited China in 2012, has reaffirmed firm opposition to China's claims but refused to back the Philippines in its bid for third party settlement.