(Reuters).
The Vatican called on Tuesday for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, including tensions between the Philippines and China as the two nations work to manage their dispute in the South China Sea. In the first visit to Manila by a Vatican foreign minister in 75 years of relations between the Holy See and the Catholic-majority country, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said every effort must be made to resolve any differences peacefully. “We encourage parties in conflict to abide by international law,” Gallagher told reporters during a joint briefing with the Philippines’ foreign minister. Gallagher’s visit comes as talks are underway between Manila and Beijing to manage their tensions in the South China Sea, which Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said he hoped would result in confidence-building measures to manage tensions.