MANILA- The code of conduct in the South China Sea is the "least" of the United States concerns, President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese Premier Li Kequiang Friday.

Duterte made the statement during his bilateral meeting with Li, saying he has been receiving "so many requests" on the progress of the sea code.

"The biggest urgency really comes from the Western world and I would like to tell you now, in front of the media and all, that the passage of the code of conduct by China and everyone is the least concern of America," the Philippine leader said of the country's long-time ally.

President Duterte meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang | via @pia_gutierrez #DuterteInChina pic.twitter.com/2KqVEKTOzR

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 30, 2019

Duterte's latest remarks are far from his earlier statement that China could be delaying the talks for the much-awaited agreement to manage tensions in the disputed waters.

“They are delaying it and it’s causing so many incidents and one day it will --- one mistake, a miscalculation there and mahirap na bawian ‘yun (it's difficult to take it back),” he told reporters earlier this month.

• 'Big issue': Duterte says to press China on sea code

China and Southeast Asian countries with conflicting maritime claims agreed in 2017 to start talks on a sea code, seen to replace the non-binding 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The Philippines, as country coordinator for the dialogue partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and China, is is tasked to handle negotiations between the regional bloc and Beijing for a binding code of conduct until 2021.

For his part, Li meanwhile noted how ties between Manila and Beijing improved since Duterte took office, as he called for cooperation for "win-win results."

"We have cemented traditional relations between the 2 countries. We will continue to strengthen and together we will achieve win-win results," Li said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Malacañang, said Thursday night that he wanted the code crafted before President Duterte steps down.

• China's Xi wants sea code crafted before Duterte steps down