ULAN BATOR, July 15 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiangon Friday told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abethat Tokyo should stop hyping up and interfering in the South China Seaissue.

Li made the remarks in a meeting with Abe on the sidelines of the ongoing 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulan Bator, and urged both sides to find ways to properly manage their differences.

Li said that China's stance on the South China Sea issue is completely in line with international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Japan is not a state directly involved in the South China Sea issue, and thus should "exercise caution in its own words and deeds, and stop hyping up and interfering" in the issue, he said.

The Chinese premier called on both sides to step up exchanges on the East China Sea issue via dialogue and consultation based on the four-point principled agreement they reached in November 2014, so as to stave off misinterpretation and miscalculation.