BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday expressed appreciation over Sao Tome and Principe's decision to break so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan.

Noting the Chinese side has noticed a relevant announcement made by the government of Sao Tome and Principe on Tuesday (local time), ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China welcomes the country to be back on the right track of the one-China principle.

The one-China principle, which concerns China's core interests and the 1.3 billion Chinese people' feelings, is the political basis and premise on which China is to develop friendly relations of cooperation with foreign countries, Hua said.

Hua added the principle, which was acknowledged in the Resolution 2758 adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 1971, has become universal consensus in the international community.