BEIJING - Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Wednesday that China's position on the South China Sea has been consistent and clear.

Yang made the remarks at a joint press conference held with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, said Yang.

"This is based on sufficient historical and legal grounds," he said.

Disputes over the sovereignty of some islands in the South China Sea and the overlapping of ocean rights in some parts of the region should be solved by the countries concerned through dialogue and negotiation on the basis of respecting history and international laws, Yang said.

"Since countries are talking about the importance of abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea, what I have said just now represents not only China's position, but also the basic principles and spirit of the DOC, the consensus reached by all of its signatories and the commitment made by all parties," Yang said.

He said several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed with China that parties concerned should make joint efforts to formulate a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

"Navigation freedom and safety in the South China Sea are fully guaranteed," said Yang.

"The South China Sea is a lifeline for exchanges and trade between China and countries in the region. It does not have problems now and will not have any problems in the future," Yang said.