Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region during his talks with Singaporean leaders on May 3.

Both sides affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability so as to enable all countries in the region to continue to grow, Singapore's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On the East Sea issue, both sides agreed on the need for ASEAN and China to work actively on the way forward for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea on the basis of consensus, the ministry said.

The leaders of the two countries also discussed ideas to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, in such areas as financial services, social management and telecommunications.

During his two-day official visit to Singapore from May 2 as part of his Southeast Asian tour, the Chinese minister met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Foreign Minister K.Shanmugam and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The Chinese minister will continue his trip in Brunei.-VNA