G7 should not hype up S China Sea issue: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in Beijing on April 9, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- The upcoming meeting of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers should not play up the South China Sea issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

Wang told visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond that China hopes Britain will adopt an objective and fair stand in the issue, and not take sides.

The G7 foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States is scheduled to convene on Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan.

Wang also reiterated China's stance on Hong Kong. The Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, he stressed, noting the Chinese central government will adhere to the principles of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy.

China appreciates the British side's remarks of dismissing calls for "Hong Kong independence," said Wang.

On China-UK relations, the minister called on the two sides to continue close high-level exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and trust so as to ensure a good beginning of the "golden era" of bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Britain in October. The two countries are implementing the results of the visit and expanding cooperation in various fields, according to Wang.

Wang and Hammond also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the political settlement process in Syria.