China hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing Tuesday at a regular press briefing.

Speaking of the ongoing visit to China by the High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Oliveira Guterres, Qin said, "We are confident that his visit will help promote mutual trust between China and the UNHCR."

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Guterres on Tuesday and Guterres expressed the hope to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China on how to deal with refugee-related issues.

Responding to question about the so-called DPRK refugees in China, Qin said they were not refugees since they entered China illegally.

China always deals with this kind of problems in accordance with Chinese and international laws and humanitarian principles, Qin said.

"We will continue to do so in the future," he said.

Source: Xinhua