SAN JOSE, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei condemned here Thursday the secessionist moves that Taiwan authorities under Chen Shui-bian are currently pursuing in Central America.

    The Taiwan authorities' moves run counter to the tide of history and their attempts are doomed to failure, He told a press conference after the first political consultation between the foreign ministries of China and Costa Rica on Thursday.

    Ma Xiuhong, Chinese Vice Trade Minister, and Wang Xiaoyuan, China's ambassador to Costa Rica, attended the press conference.

    At the press conference, He said that the international community has had a common recognition of the "one China" principle.

    China has established diplomatic ties with 169 countries around the world, all of which acknowledge that there is only one China and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, he said.

    The recognition is embodied in UN Resolution 2758, he added.

    A Chinese delegation led by He arrived here Tuesday for an official visit to Costa Rica. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias met with the delegation on Wednesday.

    This is the first large-scale Chinese delegation visiting Costa Rica after the two nations established diplomatic ties on June 1.

    After their meeting, the two sides signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a political consultation mechanism.