China will seek to keep the focus of the upcoming G20 Summit purely on economic issues with no scope for any possible discussion about the contentious South China Sea dispute, Bloomberg reported.    

When asked if China will allow discussions about South China Sea issue during the upcoming G20 summit, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said G20 leaders must not allow other topics to distract them, adding that the summit is purely about global economic governance, trade, and investment.

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The leaders of the world's 20 largest economies will assemble in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from September 4 and 5 to discuss a range of global economic issues. The summit is set to take place amid the prolonged economic recession and the ongoing slowdown in Chinese economy.

Beijing fears that the US and its allies will use the G20 summit as a platform to raise up the South China Sea issue. China is hesitant about such a move, given that it is already under pressure after an international tribunal court dismissed its claim over disputed maritime territory.

Earlier this year, G7 leaders defied China's stern warning by including the South China Sea dispute in the final statement of their summit. The G7 statement was criticized by China.     

Meanwhile, China is apparently garnering support to counter any possible move by the US and its allies during the G20 Summit. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who concluded three-day tour to India on Sunday, requested New Delhi's support on the issue.       

According to sources, Wang requested that Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj does not join the US-led bloc in raising the South China Sea issue at the G20 summit.

TagsSouth China Sea, G20 Summit 2016, china