Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh on Wednesday expresses firm opposition against the Taiwan authority's "trick" to join the UN under the name of Taiwan.

He made these remarks while meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng at his ministry, according to a press release issued by the ministry.

Hor Namhong reiterated the Cambodian government's consistent stance of supporting the one-China policy and its firm opposition of the Taiwan authority over its bid to join UN.

In addition, he said, the recent activities by the authority of Taiwan to organize referendum to join UN under the name of Taiwan are just another serious step to seek "de jure Taiwan independence," which will absolutely not succeed.

The Cambodian government will stick to its consistent and firm stance and will oppose Taiwan to join UN, he said.

"There is only one China in the world, namely the People's Republic of China, and Taiwan is an integral part of China," he said.

According to Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly in 1971, China resumed its seat in UN, which is a globally recognized fact, he added.

On Monday, a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the UN Office of Legal Affairs had rejected the application for UN membership by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian.    

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2007)