Countries outside the region should respect the efforts of regional countries to safeguard peace and stability, China's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday in response to US President Barack Obama's statement on the importance of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

In a speech before leaving Hanoi on Tuesday, the US president said he would uphold the key principles of freedom of navigation and regional order together with his partners while admitting the US is not a claimant.

"Every time the US brings about freedom of navigation, I think it should first make clear whether it is talking about the real freedom of navigation enjoyed by all countries under international law or a 'freedom' exclusive to US military vessels and planes to do whatever they want," Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a daily briefing on Tuesday.

"If it is the first one, we will surely welcome and stand for it. Otherwise, I believe the entire world would say 'no' to it," Hua said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Tashkent summit on Tuesday that the meeting has sent a clear signal - disputes on territorial and maritime interests should be resolved through negotiations with related parties instead of internationalizing the disputes. 

Countries outside the region have no right to infringe on the sovereignty over Nansha Islands and maritime interests, said Wang.

Addressing 2,000 poeple including top Vietnamese leaders, Obama said "Big nations should not bully smaller ones, disputes should be resolved peacefully," AFP reported.

"It is our position that a country should not be judged based on its size," Hua specified.

"A country's size is irrelevant. What really matters is the sincerity and resolve of countries concerned to jointly settle disputes through negotiations and consultations," she pointed out.

Hua added that China and ASEAN countries have signed several bilateral and regional consensus on resolving disputes through negotiations and consultations, and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, which comprise the foundation of rules and order in this area.