Beijing: Visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday said that her country "opposes the proposed referendum" on Taiwan's UN membership.

Addressing a press meet here after her talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Rice reiterated that the US was committed to the one-China policy and opposed any unilateral change across the straits.

She also expressed her hope that differences across the straits would be resolved peacefully.

"The US opposes the proposed referendum because we believe that the referendum would not be constructive and would not in fact serve useful purposes," she said.

Chinese Foreign minister Yang Jiechi said that China appreciates the US and Rice's public statements on opposition to the Taiwan authorities' proposed "referendum on UN membership".

China also praised US for its adherence to the one-China policy and the opposition to "Taiwan independence", the minister said.

The Taiwan question affects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is of utmost concern to China, Yang said.

Rice arrived here Tuesday morning for a two-day official visit on the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Yang.

Source : IANS