China says South China Sea freedom of navigation 'assured'

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Wednesday that nations should enjoy freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and promised that there would "never be issues" in the tense waterway.

At a joint news conference with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Yang said China hoped to work with the United States and took note of calls by Southeast Asian nations to reach a code of conduct on the South China Sea.