China has always advocated properly resolving and managing territorial disputes through dialogue and negotiation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday.

Hong made the remarks when asked to comment on Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Okada Katsuya's acknowledgement that dispute does exist between Japan and China over the Diaoyu Islands.

The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets belong to China and have been an inherent part of Chinese territory since ancient times. China holds indisputable sovereignty over them, according to the spokesman.

Asked about the rescue of a Chinese cargo ship which caught fire on Saturday evening off Japan's Okinawa, he said China's consulate-general in Fukuoka is keeping in close touch with Japan to deal with the aftermath of the accident.

On learning that the cargo ship caught fire, the Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately asked the consulate-general in Fukuoka to launch an emergency response and coordinate with the Japanese side to take effective measures to put out the fire and rescue the crew members, Hong said.

All 64 Chinese crew members on board have been rescued and the Chinese companies concerned are making arrangements to help the ship and crew members return home, he added. Endi