China welcomes the founding of the Republic of South Sudan and supports its intentions to join the United Nations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

"China will develop a friendly and cooperative relationship with South Sudan under such principles as peaceful co-existence and will maintain communication and cooperation within the UN framework," spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing.

South Sudan, which became the world's newest country on July 9, has applied for UN membership and is very likely to be accepted as the 193rd member state.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2011)