China respects the choice of Montenegrin people and will respect the final results of the referendum, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

Fifty-five point five percent of Montenegrin voters supported the Balkan republic's independence from Serbia-Montenegro, the results of the referendum showed Tuesday.

The turnout in Sunday's referendum was 86.3 percent, according to the Republican Referendum Commission.

China believes that Serbia and Montenegro will properly handle their relations through friendly consultations, Liu said.

Source: Xinhua