Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd R, Top) answers questions during a news conference on the sidelines of the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 7, 2011. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Monday.

"We urge the United States to strictly abide by the principles and spirits of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and the China-U.S. Joint Statement," Yang told reporters, calling on the U.S. to stop arms sales to Taiwan.

The U.S. should "take concrete actions to support the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations", he said, noting that it is important in upholding overall interests of China-U.S. relations.

Yang said there is now "good atmosphere" in China-U.S. relations, but it is "an objective reality that China and the United States have some differences or even frictions over some issues."

"What is important is to properly handle these differences on the basis of mutual respect," he said.