A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Wednesday that countries who had forged diplomatic relations with China should not develop official ties with its Taiwan region.

"We don't oppose countries who have established a diplomatic relationship with us promoting non-governmental economic, trade and cultural activities with Taiwan," said spokesman Hong Lei, who stressed that China did object to countries who foster official relations or sign official pacts with Taiwan, which challenges and infringes the one-China policy.

Hong made these remarks in response to reports of recent visits paid by the so-called Taiwan Vice Minister of Economic Affairs to Germany, France and Belgium in a bid to sign an economic cooperation agreement with the EU. Hong noted that China hopes and also believes that the countries who share diplomatic relations with it would continue to adhere to the one-China policy.