China deems the Cyprus issue should be resolved fairly and reasonably, and in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Thursday.

Kong told a press conference that China is very concerned about the Cyprus issue, adding the Chinese government has always called for full respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

He said the legitimate rights and interests of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots should be guaranteed.

"Any solution should take into account the interests and concerns of both parties," added Kong.

Kong pointed out that China supports what the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has done to accelerate the process for resolving the issue.

Cyprus has been divided into the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north since 1974.

The latest UN-led efforts to reunite the island failed in April 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan in a referendum, which was approved by the Turkish Cypriots in the north.

Source: Xinhua