NANNING - South China Sea disputes should not and will not affect relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday.

Li made the remarks while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the tenth China-ASEAN Expo, which runs from September 3 to 6 in Nanning, capital city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Regarding South China Sea disputes, China has always firmly held that the immediate disputing parties should seek sound solutions through friendly negotiations on the basis of respecting historical facts and international laws, Li said.

Li also said that the Chinese side maintains the South China Sea disputes is not an issue of China and the ASEAN. "South China Sea disputes should not and will not affect the overall China-ASEAN cooperation."