The 62nd session of the UN General Assembly approved on Friday the recommendation of its general committee not to include the so-called issue of "Taiwan's participation in the United Nations" into the agenda.

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya told reporters shortly after the adoption of the recommendation that representatives from more than 120 member states voiced their clear support at the plenary meeting of the Assembly for the adoption of the General Committee's recommendation, and opposed inclusion of the so-called Taiwan -- related proposal into the agenda.

It once again demonstrated the overwhelming majority of the member states support the Chinese government in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, advocate the One-China principle, and firmly oppose the United Nations becoming a venue for China's separation, he said.

The Assembly debated the question for four hours. Among the 140 member states whose representatives delivered speech at the plenary meeting, 126, including Russia, Britain and France, support China's position on the Taiwan issue.

Addressing the member states, Wang reiterated that "China is yet to be reunited, but the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China has never been changed."

"This is an objective reality that nobody can deny," he said, adding that "there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China's territory. This is the common position of the United Nations and the overwhelming majority of its Member States. "

Wang pointed out that General Assembly Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 has long resolved once and for all China's representation in the United Nations politically, legally and in terms of procedures.

"The political and legal meanings of this resolution are integrated and clear-cut," he said. "The scope of China's territory has never been changed since the founding of the United Nations. China's representation in the United Nations certainly includes Taiwan.”

"It is futile for the Taiwan authorities and a very few countries to deny historical facts, take things out of context and attempt to distort and even deny GA Resolution 2758," the Chinese ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Wang noted that the compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have the same origin and ancestors and speak the same language.

"They share a common destiny and ride on the same boat. The 23 million Taiwan compatriots are part of the 1.3 billion Chinese people and Taiwan belongs to the entire Chinese people," he declared.

He condemned the attempt of Gambia and a very few other countries, who, instigated by the Taiwan authorities and in defiance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and GA Resolution 2758, have kept raising the so- called issue of "Taiwan 's participation in the United Nations" at the GA sessions year after year.

"This is an act that seriously violates China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and gravely intervenes in China's internal affairs," Wang said. "The act is also a waste of the precious resources and time of the United Nations and a serious interruption of the normal work of the General Assembly. The Chinese Government and people strongly condemn and firmly oppose such an act."

He urged these countries to cherish their international image and dignity, and refrain from seeking transient interests while being used by the Taiwan authorities for separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence."

The General Committee of the 62nd session of the General Assembly flatly refused on Wednesday to include the so-called issue of Taiwan 's application for UN "membership," raised by the Solomon Islands and a very few other countries, into the agenda of the General Assembly.

The General Committee is composed of the President and 21 Vice- Presidents of the Assembly and the Chairmen of the six Main Committees. At the beginning of each session, the General Committee considers the provisional agenda and the supplementary list and makes recommendations to the General Assembly.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Saturday that any attempt to challenge the one-China principle and split China will never succeed.

Jiang said China appreciates countries who supported China in UN General Assembly and its General Committee.

"We urge the Taiwan authorities and a very few countries to follow the historical trend and stop any activities to split China," Jiang said.

Since 1993, the General Assembly has for the 15th consecutive time thwarted Taiwan's attempt to join the world body composed of sovereign states.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2007)