China Saturday stressed a peaceful resolution through friendly bilateral consultation and negotiation to disputes concerning the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu made the remarks when commenting on Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III recent utterances on the issue.

When addressing the members of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations in New York Thursday, Aquino said there is not any sense that China is throwing its weight around on the issue.

He added that if China does throw its weight around on the issue, however, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) "will stand as a bloc and oppose it."

"China has and always will work for the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea disputes," Jiang said.

She said China hopes the concerned states, including the Philippines, will deal with the relevant disputes with the same spirit as China while promoting good-neighborly relations and mutual trust among countries in the region, ensuring the region's peace and stability.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2010)