A show of unity on the international stage, but ongoing regional territorial disputes overshadow the opening of an ASEAN summit in Asia.

China's vice-president and apparent leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, tells regional leaders Beijing wants peaceful relations following months of tension over long-running disputes with neighbours over the South China Sea.

Disagreement with Japan over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea sparked days of violent attacks on Japanese interests in China.

Beijing's claims to sovereignty over a vast stretch of the seas has also caused friction with Vietnam and the Philippines, making it Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint.

At stake are potentially massive offshore oil reserves. The seas also lie on key shipping lanes.