State Councilor Yang Jiechi to meet Kerry on South China Sea

Leaders from China and the US discuss joint efforts to combat climate change in Washington on Tuesday. From left: former US Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, who moderated the discussion; Vice-Premier Wang Yang; Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew; State Councilor Yang Jiechi; Secretary of State John Kerry. The discussion was part of events on the opening day of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. [Photo by Amy He / China Daily]

State Councilor Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss the South China Sea during the eighth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue to be held on Monday in Beijing, an official with the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The two sides will work to push forward a proper settlement of the issue, Vice-Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang told reporters at a warming-up forum for the dialogue.

Regarding the South China Sea, Zheng said, the US, which in fact is not a claimant country, has already promised that it would take no position in the disputes.

"We hope the US could keep its promise and take no side," Zheng said, noting that Washington should determine its position based on the actual rights and wrongs, instead of the position of its allies.

If Washington could stop provocative activity against China's sovereignty and security interests, it will certainly play a constructive role in keeping peace and stability in the region, and cool the issue, he added.

The vice-foreign minister reaffirmed China's stance on the South China Sea, saying that China has the right to safeguard its own territory and legitimate maritime interests, as the South China Sea islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times.

He noted that China will be committed to keeping peace and stability in the South China Sea and manage disputes via dialogue.

China will insist on peacefully resolving the issue through negotiations and consultations, and realizing win-win results through cooperation, he said.