Philippine fishermen will continue to have access to Scarborough Shoal, a fertile fishing ground in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone that has been controlled by China for the past several years, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Nov. 20, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Chinese state-run media. Xi met with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru. Xi called for China and the Philippines to explore maritime cooperation in the area. He also pledged assistance to Philippine fishermen in alternative industries such as aquaculture. China has been blockading the rich fishing grounds since seizing the shoal, located around 120 miles from Luzon well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, after a two-month standoff in 2012. Eight groups of Philippine fishermen reportedly entered the shoal without interference from the Chinese coast guard on Oct. 26.