China puts ties before Spratlys

China puts ties before Spratlys

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): China on Tuesday assured its Asian neighbors that it will not allow the Spratlys issue to harm diplomatic ties.

"We won't let the problem to affect bilateral relationship with Malaysia, the Philippines or other countries," said Guan Dengming, China's ambassador to Malaysia.

Guan stressed that China hopes the Spratly dispute should be solved through bilateral consultation between the affected countries only.

China shared Malaysia's stand which opposed the interference of third parties in solving the dispute over the overlapping claims to the Spratly Islands, he said.