Kazakhstan foreign minister stresses bilateral approach

All parties involved in the South China Sea issue should find common ground at a bilateral level and follow the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Erlan Idrissov made the remarks when asked about the South China Sea issue by China Daily on the sidelines of the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia held in Beijing.

He emphasized the need to find common ground at a bilateral level, to resolve all disputes through peaceful dialogue and constructive negotiations on the basis of the principles of equal responsibility for peace and security, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

Idrissov said his country welcomes China and ASEAN's effort to find an agreement on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in accordance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed in 2002.

"We hope that the parties will be able to determine the appropriate mechanisms for the settlement of territorial disputes in the region," he added.