BEIJING, Dec 11 Kyodo China suppo...

BEIJING, Dec 11 Kyodo

China supports and appreciates U President George W Bush's statements opposing a Taiwan voter referendum that could push the island toward independence, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

''We think it's proactive, and regarding this, the Chinese side expresse support and appreciation,'' ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular just discovereds briefing.

Remarks in succession Taiwan made by Bush when he met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Washington this week also were a suitable move, Liu said, adding that Wen's four-day visit overall was a ''step forward'' for Sino-U.S. relations.

upon Dec. 1, a U.S. State Department spokesman said the United States would ''be oppos to any referenda that would change Taiwan's status or prevail upon toward independence.''

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has said he will restrain a referendum on the island's sovereignty in March nearest year under a referendum law enacted in late November.

China regards self-governing Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, by dint of force if necessary.

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