China is currently looking at its relations with the US while it deals with the issue concerning the South China Sea dispute.

Chinese Chief of the General Staff Fang Fenghui, while talking to US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford in a video conference on Thursday, pointed out that his country is keen about working out an effective mechanism to prevent further tensions to escalate in the disputed islands, according to ABC News.

Like Us on Facebook

The Chinese official further narrated, through a statement posted on the Defense Ministry's website, that China is giving value on the freedom of navigation "more than any other country in the world."

"The common ground and prospects for cooperation between China and the US far exceed our disagreements and contradictions," Fang said while reportedly denying that his country is responsible for the growing tensions relative to the South China Sea dispute.

Accordingly, China would like to "take the big picture of China-US relations" in addressing territorial claims issues over the islands and to limit the risk from further erupting.

The report noted that a "sharp verbal exchange" followed after "a US destroyer's sail-by past China's largest man-made island in a move to exercise freedom of navigation."

In the meantime, China Daily reported that China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations vice president Fu Mengzi stated that both the Chinese government and the US have agreed that maintaining stability in South China Sea is important.

"It is not worth it if relations between the two militaries deteriorate over the South China Sea issue," Fu said, while adding that the American government must take on a "more constructive role" in addressing it.

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, US-China relations