MANILA, Philippines – By listening to its neighbors, China can realize that they are not adversaries but “willing partners” in its quest for regional development and stability, visiting US President Barack Obama said yesterday.

Asked to comment on China’s growing aggressiveness in staking its claims in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, Obama said the emerging super power should show good faith and commitment to resolve its territorial disputes with its neighbors peacefully.

“If China, I think, listens to its neighbors and recognizes that there is another approach to resolve these disputes, what China will find is this – they’ve got ready and willing partners throughout the Asia Pacific region that want to work with them on trade and commerce and selling goods and buying goods,” Obama said in a joint press briefing at Malacañang with President Aquino shortly after his arrival yesterday for a two-day state visit.

The Philippines is the final leg of his four-nation Asian tour.

“And it’s inevitable that China is going to be a dominant power in this region just by pure size. Nobody, I think, denies that,” he said.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/04/29/1317301/china-urged-listen-your-neighbors