SCO supports peace and stability in South China Sea

TASHKENT, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Tuesday expressed support for maintaining peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region, including the South China Sea.

In a statement of SCO Secretary-General Rashid Olimov on South China Sea issue, all SCO countries agreed and supported China's efforts made to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

They also voiced support for any country in the Asia-Pacific region to promote a peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the South China Sea.

The SCO member states stressed the UN Charter, UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other international laws should be the basic principles when addressing the South China Sea issue.

Directly concerned states should resolve disputes through negotiation and consultation in accordance with all bilateral treaties and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the statement said.

It urged to respect the right of every sovereign state to decide by itself the dispute resolution methods, and strongly opposed outsiders' intervention into the South China Sea issue, as well as the attempt to internationalize the dispute.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that a press communique released after the foreign ministers' meeting of the SCO held Tuesday here at the Uzbek capital, particularly clarifying stance on the South China Sea issue.

Foreign ministers of SCO countries stressed all disputes should be resolved through peaceful and friendly negotiations and consultations, according to the communique.

It added that SCO countries are against the internationalization of and external interference into the South China Sea issue, while all related countries should abide by the DOC and the Guidelines for the implementation of the DOC.

Wang stressed that more and more countries support China's stance on the South China Sea issue, which goes in line with the international laws and also protects the international rule of law.

"Any country, that ignores the basic facts, draws lines for allies or intentionally sparks political exploitation over the South China Sea issue, could get no result or support, but only destroy the reputation of itself," Wang said.