BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman clarified here Friday that some Myanmar border residents in China who have been the subject of contentious media reports "are not refugees" and that their numbers have been overstated by journalists.

"These people are not refugees and are far fewer in number than has been reported by the media", said spokesman Liu Weimin at a regular press briefing.

He explained that some Myanmar border residents traveled into China temporarily because of safety concerns fuelled by occasional conflicts between the Myanmar government's army and local ethnic armed forces.

"They go back to Myanmar immediately after the conflicts cease", Liu added.

Liu said that China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors and the Chinese side has handled the issue with a humanitarian spirit and offered life essentials to these Myanmar border dwellers.

He also noted that conflict between the Myanmar government and local ethnic armed forces has long been an issue, but that it remains remains one to be dealt with by Myanmar internally.

China has been urging concerned parties in Myanmar to resolve the issue through peaceful negotiation and consultation in an aim to safeguard regional peace and stability, Liu said.