The Philippines has resumed talks with China on railway development, local media reported on Sunday.

The Southeast Asian country has resumed railway talks with China, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported, citing a Sunday announcement by the Philippine transportation department.

"Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met in a formal meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Thursday to 'restart negotiations for major transport projects'," according to the report.

It cited major China-funded railway projects including the PNR South Long Haul Project, Subic-Clark Railway, and Mindanao Railway.

The Chinese government's financial support for these rail projects will "strengthen bilateral relations and enhance the partnership between the Philippines and China," the transportation department said, as quoted by the PNA report.

In a separate statement posted on Thursday on the website of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines, Huang Xilian, the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, said that China will firmly support the new Philippine government and stand ready to work with the country to push for bilateral cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, among other key areas, helping the Southeast Asian nation to revitalize its economy and create more benefits for the local people.

Infrastructure partnerships are one of the major bright spots of bilateral ties and China is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with the Philippine transportation department, Huang stated.

China holds an open attitude toward railway cooperation and is ready to continue talks with the Philippines, the ambassador added.