China and Montenegro on Thursday inked a joint communiqué to establish diplomatic ties.

 

"The establishment of China-Montenegro diplomatic ties is a significant event in the history of bilateral relations," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, following the signing of the joint communiqué by Li and his Montenegro's counterpart Miodrag Vlahovic.

 

Montenegro is the 168th country to establish diplomatic relations with China, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

 

China and Montenegro, in keeping with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level as from July 2006, the communiqué says.

 

The two countries agreed in the communiqué to develop friendship and cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

 

China respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Montenegro, it says.

 

"Montenegro recognizes that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," the communiqué says.

 

Montenegro opposes "Taiwan independence" of any form and opposes Taiwan's accession to any international or regional organizations whose membership applies only to sovereign states, it adds.

 

Montenegro vows not to establish official relations of any form or have any official exchanges with Taiwan, it says.

 

China and Montenegro agree to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the establishment and performance of the functions of their respective embassies on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and in accordance with international practice, the communiqué notes.

 

"The communiqué spells out the common aspiration of the two peoples and conforms to the fundamental interests of them," Li said in the meeting with Vlahovic. "It lays a solid foundation for China-Montenegro relations in the new era."

 

"We thank Montenegro for its opposition to 'Taiwan independence' of any form and Taiwan's accession to any international or regional organizations accessible to sovereign states," Li said.

 

Vlahovic appreciated China's prompt recognition of Montenegro's independence.

 

Hailing China's vital role in international affairs, Vlahovic said Montenegro would like to develop mutually-beneficial cooperation with China in various fields.

 

The Chinese government announced its recognition of Montenegro's sovereignty and independence on June 14 this year.

 

Montenegro was admitted as the 192nd member of the United Nations on June 28.

 

Montenegrin parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapic declared the independence of Montenegro on June 3 after the parliament ratified the result of the independence referendum held on May 21.

 

The declaration ended Montenegro's longtime union with Serbia since 1918.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)