1.   The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Guan Dengming, has said that the Spratly dispute is an Asian problem and that outsiders should not get involved.

2.   The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Guan Dengming, said last week that the Spratly dispute is an Asian problem and that outsiders should not get involved.

3.   The Philippine leader earlier planned to visit China but shelved the idea because of the Spratly dispute.

4.   Burns, for his part, said the United States had a continuous interest in the Spratly dispute, adding that Vietnam was an important regional power.

5.   Chinese parliament leader Qiao Shi told Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama here Tuesday that his country wanted a peaceful settlement of the Spratly territorial dispute.

6.   The talks are expected to include the Spratly dispute.