Beijing asks G7 not to hype South China Sea issue at Japan meeting

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with British counterpart Philip Hammond in Beijing that G7 should not hype the South China Sea issue.

The G7 Foreign Minister's Meeting should not hype the South China Sea issue, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

Wang made the remarks while meeting with his British counterpart Philip Hammond in Beijing and called on United Kingdom not to pick sides but to take a fair and objective stance on the issue.

Wang's remarks came before the G7 Foreign Minister's Meeting scheduled to be held from Sunday to Monday in Hiroshima, Japan.

According to media reports, foreign ministers from US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada will hold discussions on international affairs and will prepare for a later G7 summit. The host, Japan, wants to highlight tensions in the South China Sea and is trying to secure unity in the Group over the issue.

Bilateral relationship was in focus during Saturday's meeting in Beijing.

China and Britain are expanding their cooperation in all areas to implement President Xi Jinping's state visit results to Britain in last October, Wang said, and he hoped that both sides can work together to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, strengthen mutual trust and make sure the "Golden Era" of China-Britain relationship have a good start.

Hammond said the British government attaches great importance to building the "Golden Era" with China and London wants to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and to strengthen coordination with China in international affairs.