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

"We don't oppose the countries who have established diplomatic relationship with us promoting non-governmental economic, trade and cultural activities with Taiwan region," spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

However, Hong stressed that China did object to those countries to foster official relations or sign any official pacts with its Taiwan region, which challenged and infringed the one-China policy that has been universally acknowledged by the international community.

Hong made remarks in response to the 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 (ECA) with the European Union.

In addition, Shen Lyushun, the newly-appointed so-called Taiwan representative to the United Kingdom, also advocated recently for Taiwan to participate in the inter-governmental organizations and the special agencies under the United Nations.

"We also are opposed to accepting Taiwan region as member of any international organizations in which only sovereign states can join," Hong added.

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, cautiously deal with the Taiwan issue, and support the peaceful development of relationship between the two sides across the Taiwan Strait by their actual deeds.