BEIJING, Feb. 14 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged the United States to respect China's sovereign interests in the East China Sea and South China Sea as he held talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Wang elaborated on the history of the East China Sea and South China Sea issue and reiterated China's firm stance on the matter, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.

China sticks to a peaceful development path and continues to seek peaceful settlement of disputes with neighboring countries through negotiations and consultations, Wang said.

The minister stressed that no one can shake China's determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He urged the U.S. to respect historical facts and China's sovereign interests, adhere to an objective and impartial stance and take tangible actions to promote mutual trust in the region so as to safeguard regional peace and stability.