China is ready to work with other countries to build a maritime community with a shared future, protect marine safety, promote marine development and negotiate maritime governance, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

China is willing to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to speed up the negotiation process of consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Wang said via video at the opening ceremony of the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance. 

Regarding ocean governance, Wang said it is important to fully, accurately and comprehensively interpret and apply the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in its entirety and respect the legitimate rights and interests of countries under the Convention and customary international law. 

To safeguard marine safety, he said maritime conflicts should be dealt with peacefully, adding that countries should resolve disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through dialogue and consultation and avoid unilateral acts that complicate the situation. 

China opposes maritime hegemony and resists provocations and other acts that endanger maritime peace and tranquility, the foreign minister said. 

China calls for cooperation to address threats in areas such as piracy, transnational crime, smuggling and drug trafficking, and jointly safeguard freedom and security of navigation, he said. 

China is willing to build a high-quality 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with all parties and jointly promote the blue economy partnership, he added.

The symposium runs from Thursday to Friday in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

(Cover: A file photo of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)