Beijing Advocates for EU Unity After Deal Reached to Keep UK in Bloc

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China has always supported the integration process in the European Union, the country’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Monday, commenting on the deal reached between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the terms of Britain's membership in the bloc.

"We have paid attention to the fact that Britain and the European Union reached an agreement. China has always supported the integration processes in the European Union. We hope that the EU will play a more important role in the integration stage," Hua Chunying said at a briefing.

UK nationals are set to go to the polls on June 23 for an in/out referendum, after UK Prime Minister David Cameron and 27 of his European colleagues on Friday secured a deal to grant the United Kingdom special status within the bloc.

Speaking after the agreement was reached with the European Union, Cameron said he would campaign for Britain staying in the bloc as the new deal guarantees a special status for the United Kingdom within the European Union and delivers on the reform commitments the prime minister had made.