Chinese diplomat pushes for nuclear talks resumption

BEIJING - A senior Chinese diplomat is on a diplomacy mission on the Korean Peninsula to push for the resumption of nuclear talks, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said here Thursday.

Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin has concluded his four-day stay in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and will visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) from February 20 to 22, said Hua Chunying.

During the visit, Liu met with officials from the DPRK's Foreign Ministry and representatives of the Korea Workers' Party and DPRK Economic Development Commission.

The two sides discussed China-DPRK relations and the situation on the peninsula, Hua said.

During the meetings, Liu said that China attaches great importance to China-DPRK relations, and is willing to enhance political communication, respect to each other's interests, expand pragmatic cooperation and promote bilateral relations.

"China insists on the goal of denuclearization on the peninsula, stands for peace and stability on it, calls for dialogue and negotiations as means for settling problems and will never allow any war or disturbance on the peninsula," Hua quoted Liu as saying.

China supports the DPRK and ROK to improve relations, Hua said.

China expects concerned sides to work together to promote the easing of tensions on the peninsula, maintain peace and stability, and to create conditions for an early resumption of the six-party talks, Hua said quoting Liu's statement.

The DPRK side told Liu that it is an unswerving policy for its party and government to consolidate and develop the traditional friendly and cooperative relations with China.

The DPRK is willing to work with China to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Hua said.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was the last instruction of DPRK's former leaders, including Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, and a consistent stand of the country, Hua said quoting the DPRK's statement.

The DPRK is willing to strengthen communication with China and do its best to ease tensions and promote resumption of the six-party talks, so as to jointly safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and in the region, Hua said.

Following his DPRK trip, Liu will meet with his ROK counterparts to discuss bilateral ties, regional issues and other issues of common concern.

Liu's visits to the two countries are both regular exchanges between the foreign ministries, Hua said.

"As a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, China maintains friendly cooperative ties with both the South and the North," Hua said.

China will strive to preserve peace and stability on the peninsula, to realize denuclearization on it and push forward the six-party talks process in its own way, Hua said.

The six-party talks between the DPRK, the ROK, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, have been suspended since late 2008.