·China appreciates U.S. opposition to Taiwan's "referendum on UN membership." ·Chinese FM made the remarks when he met with Rice on Wednesday morning in Berlin. ·Yang said during the meeting the situation across the Taiwan Strait was very grave.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 23, 2008. Yang arrived in Berlin on Tuesday to join the six-party talks over the Iranian nuclear program, starting on Tuesday.  (Xinhua Photo)

BERLIN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China appreciates the position of the U.S. administration, including the remarks of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice herself, that opposes Taiwan's "referendum on UN membership", Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here on Wednesday.

Yang made the remarks when he met with Rice on Wednesday morning in Berlin. He urged the U.S. side to join hands with the Chinese side to make more efforts in maintaining the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Rice, on her part, reiterated the U.S. opposition to Taiwan's "referendum on U.N. membership." She also reiterated the one-China policy of the United States, according to Chinese diplomats.

Yang said during the meeting the situation across the Taiwan Strait was very grave.

He noted that the Taiwan authority disregarded the opposition from the international community to strive for "referendum on U.N. membership", which has posed serious threat to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region at large.

It is in the common interest of both China and the United States to oppose Taiwan's "referendum on U.N. membership" as well as to prevent Taiwan from taking the move, Yang added.

The minister also call for enhancing discussion and coordination in major international and regional issues, and properly handling the Taiwan issue and bilateral trade conflicts, so as to ensure the steady expansion of the constructive and cooperative ties between the two countries.

According to Chinese diplomats, Rice agreed on Yang's view, saying the U.S. administration would enhance cooperate with China in a wide range of fields.

Source: Xinhua