China has expressed support for the "dual track approach" raised by ASEAN countries to resolve the South China Sea issue, and called for all sides to deepen pragmatic maritime cooperation.

Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying made the remarks following Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha's keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the Shangri-La Dialogue. He said the maritime issue should not become a zero-sum game, and regional conflicts should be resolved through cooperation.

In response, Hua Chunying said China maintains that the South China Sea issue disputes should be resolved by countries directly concerned through negotiation and consultation, and peace and stability in the South China Sea should be jointly preserved by China and ASEAN countries.