Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday reaffirmed Russia's stand of sticking to the one-China policy, criticizing the "referendum" to be held on March 20 in Taiwan.  

At a meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and special envoy Dai Bingguo, Lavrov said the upcoming "referendum" was a provocative move aimed to increase tension in the Taiwan Straits and undermine regional stability.

Dai also held talks with Russia's Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov during his visit to be concluded Friday.

While meeting with Russian officials, Dai had an in-depth exchange of views with them on the Sino-Russian relations, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues of mutual concern.

Dai briefed the officials on the latest developments in the situation across the Taiwan Straits and reaffirm China's stance on the Taiwan issue. He also delivered a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao to the Russian side.

The Russian side stressed that it is opposed to any form of attempt by Taiwan to seek independence and would persistently stick to its stance on the Taiwan issue, which has been put into the Sino-Russian good-neighborliness treaty of friendship and cooperation, signed in July 2001.

Russia's reelected President Vladimir Putin also reaffirmed his country's position on the Taiwan issue Monday in a telephone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The two sides positively evaluated the momentum of the Sino-Russian relations, and expressed the hope for furthering their strategic cooperative partnership through concerted efforts.

The Russian side noted that Russia-China relationship was in the historically best period and Russia would continue its foreign policy of developing friendly cooperation with China.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2004)