The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Thursday commemorated the 70th anniversary of the recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy commemorates the 70th anniversary of the recovery of the Xisha and Nansha Islands in Beijing on Thursday, December 8, 2016. [Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

In compliance of the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, China in November and December 1946 designated officials to proceed to the Xisha and Nansha Islands by four warships to take over the islands, illegally occupied by Japan.

Ceremonies were held to demonstrate that China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over the islands.

"Recovering these islands was an important achievement of China's war against aggression, demonstrating that China was firmly safeguarding the post-war international order and affirming the nation as defending its rights and interests in the South China Sea," said PLA Navy Commander Wu Shengli at the commemoration.

Wu said construction on the islands and reefs are "lawful, justified, and reasonable" being in Chinese territory.

China is committed to resolving the disputes in a peaceful manner through negotiations and consultations, controlling differences through regulations and achieving a win-win solution through mutually beneficial cooperation, Wu said.

He stressed that history should be respected, and stability maintained by strengthening mutual trust and deepening cooperation, so that peace and development in countries in the South China Sea is assured.