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BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China understands and supports the efforts of the Spanish government to safeguard its national unity, ethnic solidarity and territorial integrity, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

"China and Spain have a friendly relationship and we will continue to develop ties with Spain under the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs," spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

The leader of Catalan region in Northeast Spain, Carles Puigdemont, announced that the region had "won independence" in a referendum held on Oct. 1. However, he said Tuesday that the declaration of independence would be suspended to open a period of dialogue with the Spanish government.

In response to this, Hua said that China believes in the ability of the Spanish government to guarantee social order and civil rights.