China will accept the return of its citizens who have been declared illegal immigrants in other countries once their identity has been confirmed, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Thursday.

Qin made the remarks in response to a reporter's question at a regular press briefing concerning illegal immigration.

China will accept the repatriation of illegal immigrants once it has been confirmed they are from China and that they left from the Chinese mainland, the spokesman said.

The international community should work closely to solve illegal immigration issue, the spokesman said.