( dpa ) - China on Monday expressed concern about the effects Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia would have on peace in the Balkans, urging the two governments to work out their problems through dialogue.
"Kosovo's unilateral act can produce a series of results that will lead to seriously negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkan region and on the realization of building a multiethnic society in Kosovo, which China is deeply concerned about," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
The parliament of Kosovo declared independence Sunday after the region had been a province of Serbia since 1944 and seen decades of ethnic tension as Kosovo's Albanian majority complained of mistreatment by Serbs.
Serbia called the declaration illegal and said it would never recognize Kosovo's secession
" China calls on the two sides of Serbia and Kosovo to continue to seek a proper solution through negotiation within the framework of international law, and the international community should create favorable conditions for this," Liu said.