China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue: FM spokesman

China supports Russia in hosting a trilateral expert-level meeting on reinforcing collaborative efforts to find a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Lin made the remarks in response to a media query about the announcement by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai that trilateral consultations by Russia, China and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue would be held in Moscow on April 7-8.

"China firmly believes that a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue is the only correct choice. We support Russia in hosting the trilateral expert-level consultation and making further efforts to promote the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," said Lin.

"China will continue to communicate and coordinate with relevant parties to find a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the reasonable concerns of all parties, so as to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East," he said.

China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue: FM spokesman

China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue: FM spokesman

China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue: FM spokesman

China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue: FM spokesman

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves