China, ASEAN capable of safeguarding peace in South China Sea: Xi

President Xi Jinping speaks during the "Forging A Strong Partnership to Enhance Prosperity of Asia" Lecture at the National University of Singapore, Nov 7, 2015. [Photo by Lan Hongguang/Xinhua]

Below are key points of Xi's remarks on South China Sea:

- South China Sea islands in disputes between China, other claimants have been Chinese territory since ancient times;

- Chinese government shoulders inescapable responsibility to safeguard territorial sovereignty and legitimate maritime rights;

- Freedom of navigation, overflight at South China Sea neither has been nor will be hindered;

- Peace, stability are starting points and objectives of China's South China Sea policy;

- China has ability, confidence in working with ASEAN to maintain South China Sea peace, stability;- China will stick to peaceful settlement of South China Sea rows although some Chinese islands illegally occupied by others.