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

China appreciates the position of the US 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 in Berlin on Wednesday.

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

Rice, on her part, reiterated the US opposition to Taiwan's "referendum on UN 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 Straits was very grave.

He noted that the Taiwan authority disregarded the opposition from the international community to strive for "referendum on UN 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 US administration would enhance cooperate with China in a wide range of fields.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2008)