Philippine leader to visit China amid row

Philippine President Benigno Aquino will visit China this month in an effort to deepen trade ties despite an increasingly bitter row over rival claims to the South China Sea, officials said yesterday.
Aquino will lead a delegation of top economic officials and hundreds of businessmen to China for the trip, from August 30 to September 3, during which he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, they said.
The state visit is aimed at boosting trade, tourism, educational and cultural relations, with a particular focus on attracting Chinese investment to the Philippines, foreign affairs department spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
The Philippines has accused China of becoming increasingly aggressive in enforcing its claims to the waters, and Aquino in June publicly called for help from longtime ally the United States in helping to contain China.