BEIJING (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is in Beijing for a meeting with counterpart Xi Jinping.

Duterte is expected Thursday to bring up a 2016 ruling on the South China Sea dispute that has for years strained relations between the two countries.

The Hague arbitration, citing violations of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, mostly invalidated China's claim to virtually the entire South China Sea.

Duterte has sought warmer ties with Beijing and has long been criticized by nationalists and left-wing groups in the Philippines for not immediately demanding Chinese compliance with the ruling.

The South China Sea's waters are a major shipping route for global commerce. They are also rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.