An Asia-Europe summit later this week is no place for talking about the South China Sea, Beijing said Monday on the eve of an international tribunal ruling in the dispute.
The biennial meeting, known as ASEM, will take place in Mongolia just days after the Permanent Court of Arbitration rules on a case brought by the Philippines over the strategically critical region -- proceedings boycotted by China.
The ASEM gathering will be attended by representatives of both countries, as well as other nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, with a stake in the outcome.
But the meeting is "not an appropriate venue" to discuss the issue, Chinese assistant foreign minister Kong Xuanyou told a briefing Monday on Beijing's participation in the event.
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