Sri Lanka calls for peaceful negotiations over South China Sea issue

COLOMBO ?-- Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that the only way the South China Sea issue could be resolved was through peaceful, constructive and meaningful negotiations among concerned countries.

Additional Media Secretary to Prime Minister Saman Athaudahetti told Xinhua that Sri Lanka firmly believed in resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations and called on all parties concerned to hold constructive talks.

"We know there are some disputes and differences between some countries, therefore we believe that such disputes can be settled though constructive dialogue," he said.

Athaudahetti stressed that rather than taking the matter to The Hague, leaders concerned should resolve the matter "within themselves" and seek a peaceful solution.

He said all countries could trust China, which is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

"We can trust China as President Xi Jinping emphasized in his historic speech on Sept. 3 last year that China will never seek hegemony or expansion and will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation," Athaudahetti said.