FM calls for direct talks in sea disputes

BEIJING - China on Monday reiterated its stance of resolving disputes in the South China Sea through talks between nations that are directly involved.

Multinational talks will not help and may make the issue even more complicated, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily press meeting.

Liu's remarks came after Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba proposed a multilateral framework to settle maritime disputes in the South China Sea during a tour of Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.