To smooth the choppy diplomatic waters of the South China Sea, observers said on Sunday that countries outside the region should not get involved into the overlapping territorial claims of China and some ASEAN countries.

The call followed President Xi Jinping's remarks on Saturday at the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province, about nurturing new security concepts in the region, as Asia explores various paths.

"All of us must oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs and reject attempts to destabilize the region out of selfish motives," Xi said at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia.