Cruz expressed hope that the accord would help ease tensions over the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

"The more you talk, the more you hold dialogue, the more you avoid any untoward events," he said.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo agreed to forge a bilateral defense cooperation agreement with China during her visit there earlier this month.

During her visit, the Philippine government's oil exploration company agreed to jointly conduct with its Chinese counterpart the seismic mapping of potential oil reserves of the Spratly Islands.

Cruz said his visit to China would involve a "high-level dialogue" that will identify areas in defense where the two countries can cooperate.

"There are areas that we can help each other, for example, sea rescue, disaster mitigation and exchange of training," he said.

The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, claim part or all of the Spratly islands which are believed to sit on vast mineral resources. All claimants except Brunei have troops posted in the islands.

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