Q: On March 12, Canadian Foreign Minister Bernier addressed the public on Canada's Asia-Pacific foreign policies, saying that Canada attaches great importance to developing Canada-China relations, sticks to one china policy and opposes Taiwan's referendum on its "UN membership". Do you have any comment?

A: We have taken note of Foreign Minister Bernier's remarks on Canada-China relations in his speech on Canada's Asia-Pacific foreign policies on March 12. He noted that Canada attaches great importance to developing Canada-China relations, sticks to one china policy, recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, and opposes Taiwan's referendum on its so-called "UN membership". China expresses appreciation to that.

China attaches importance to its relations with Canada and believes the development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples. We hope the two countries can make joint efforts in light of the principles of equality, mutual respect and benefit, as well as non-interference in each other's internal affairs so as to further promote the bilateral relations along the healthy and stable   track of development.