China will not use the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road project as a geopolitical tool to manipulate neighboring countries, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said in Boao, Hainan province on Saturday.

China is willing to put aside political disputes and focus on economic and humanities cooperation when it comes to ocean exploration, Yang said.

The modern Maritime Silk Road links China with Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, East African and some European economies via vital shipping routes such as the Malacca strait and the Red Sea.

"Asian nations need to build a deeper trust to share the benefit brought by the ocean," he said, adding China is willing to work with all countries, enterprises and organizations which share the same view.

Yang also vowed a deeper cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members in ocean transportation, resource exploration, scientific research, environmental protection, disaster relief and tourism sectors.

The country has established close partnerships with Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia on maritime cooperation.