AKIPRESS.COM - The Group of Seven nations should stop inflaming territorial disputes in Asian waters and focus its energy on dealing with a slumping global economy, China said, in response to G-7 calls for countries to stop land reclamation and militarization in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, Bloomberg reported.

“China is strongly dissatisfied with relevant moves taken by G-7,” Foreign Minister spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement Tuesday. “We urge G-7 members to abide by their promise of not taking sides on territorial disputes, respect the efforts by regional countries, stop all irresponsible words and actions, and make constructive contribution to regional peace and stability.”

The G-7 should have focused on righting a sluggish global economy “instead of hyping up maritime issues and fueling tensions in the region,” he said.

Lu’s remarks were in response to G-7 foreign ministers raising concerns over tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, where China has been more aggressively asserting its territorial claims under President Xi Jinping. China “resolutely upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” in the waterways, Lu said.