China's will to safeguard sovereignty 'unshakable': foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING, May 16 -- China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity is "unshakable", Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

"The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock and it is unshakable," Wang said at a joint press conference with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"China's development on some of the islands and reefs in Nansha is something fully within the scope of China's sovereignty," Wang said.

As to the concerns of related parties, the minister said China is willing to dialogue with them to promote mutual understanding, and that such dialogues are already underway between China and ASEAN countries.

China is also willing to conduct necessary dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, Wang said.

He acknowledged that China and the US do have differences on the South China Sea issue, but noted the two sides also share common ground.

"We are both committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and to safeguarding freedom of navigation as defined by international law. We both stand for dialogue so as to solve the disputes peacefully," Wang said.

"It's OK to have differences, but we must not misunderstand each other, and certainly we must avoid miscalculation," Wang said.