In its first formal response to the Soviet Communist Party's fall after last week's failed coup, China issued a statement Wednesday saying it respects the will of the Soviet people.
The Foreign Ministry statement made no mention of concerns over the future of communism. The statement was terse and non-committal on the political upheaval that has left China as the last major Communist country in the world.China has been especially sensitive to anti-communist upheaval after crushing its own pro-democracy movement in June 1989, killing hundreds of unarmed civilians.
Wednesday's statement came in response to questions for China's reaction to the collapse of the Soviet Communist Party and the declarations of independence by several Soviet republics.
It was similar to the Foreign Ministry's responses following the Aug. 19 Soviet coup attempt and Mikhail S. Gorbachev's return to power later in the week.
"We have always believed that the internal affairs of the Soviet Union should be handled by the Soviet peoples themselves," the statement said.
It also said China believes "the Sino-Soviet good-neighborly and friendly relations will continue to grow."
On Tuesday, government spokesman Yuan Mu said China will not abandon socialism and will not be affected by the changes in the Soviet Union.