A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry defends Beijing's "sovereign rights and the right of jurisdiction over the relevant waters" after the Philippine Coast Guard accused its Chinese counterpart of steering one of its ships within metres of a Filipino patrol vessel in the disputed South China Sea, breaking international rules and risking a collision. The ministry also says it hopes to promote stability and "understand the Afghan people’s difficulties and requests" in hosting the third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan's Neighbouring Countries, where Russia’s Sergey Lavrov is set to attend. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES