China commends South Africa for relocating Taiwan office from its capital

China commends South Africa for moving the Taiwan representative office out of its capital Pretoria, said Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the statement when asked whether China asked South Africa to close the Taiwan office.

"The one-China principle is the political foundation for China to establish and grow diplomatic relations with other countries in the world. It is also a universally recognized norm in international relations and where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends. We commend South Africa’s right decision to move the Taipei Liaison Office in South Africa outside the capital Pretoria. 'Taiwan independence' finds no support from the people and will only fail," she said.

China commends South Africa for relocating Taiwan office from its capital

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit to China through Saturday.

This visit marks the first trip to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years.

When briefing on the visit of Carney, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China looks forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to enhance dialogue and communication, increase political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, properly manage differences, address each other's concerns and consolidate the momentum of improvement in China-Canada relations to bring greater benefit for the two peoples.

Canadian PM arrives in Beijing for official visit